Devices
including mobile phones are set to be banned from classrooms to stop them from
disrupting learning, the Dutch government has announced.
The initiative
is being introduced in collaboration with schools and is to take effect at the
start of next year.
There will be
some exceptions, including for students with medical needs or a disability, and
for classes focused on digital skills.
The ban is not
legally enforceable but may become so in the future.
"Even
though mobile phones are almost intertwined with our lives, they do not belong
in the classroom," said Education Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf.
"Students
must be able to concentrate there and be given every opportunity to learn well.
We know from scientific research that mobile phones disrupt this."
Various studies
have found limiting children's screen time is linked to improved cognition
and concentration.
Other tech
including tablets and smartwatches are also included in the Dutch ban.
The government
said it would be up to individual schools to agree the exact rules with
teachers, parents and pupils - including whether they wanted to completely ban
devices from schools.
The scheme is
the result of an agreement between the ministry, schools and related
organisations.
It will be
reviewed at the end of the 2024/2025 school year to see how well it had worked
and whether a legal ban is needed.
The announcement
follows a similar decision by Finland last week.
Its government
announced it would change the law to make it easier to restrict the use of
phones in schools.
Other countries, including
England and France, have also proposed banning mobile phones to improve
learning.
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