Since last Monday the Netherlands bans cell phones during class even in primary schools. A similar measure has so far only applied to secondary education. According to the Ministry of Education in The Hague, the reason for the ban is that mobile phones distract students and limit their ability to concentrate on the subject.

Exceptions are made only when the mobile phone itself is the subject of the curriculum (as in a discussion about the appropriate use of technology and media by children) or when its use is deemed necessary for medical reasons, for example in the case of a disability.

Many schools in the Netherlands prohibit the use of mobile phones even during recess. According to a report by the public broadcaster NOS, the measure has beneficial effects. “The sociability improves during the break, the students talk more with each other again” says the psychologist Loes Powellsan assistant professor at the University of Nijmegen who records changes in student behavior.

“No” on the mobile, “yes” on the tablet

In Italy, the Ministry of Education has “reminded” since last July the ban on the use of mobile phones in class. Because prohibitions existed before but were not observed. As Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara from the far-right League party now points out, banning mobile phones will not only make students quieter, but also free them from constant typing.

“Our children will have to get used to writing with paper and pencil again,” says Valditara. For this reason, he even brings back the traditional “school diary”, in which all students are invited to contribute by writing by hand. However, despite the ban on mobile phones, the use of tablets or computers is not excluded in Italian schools, as long as there is consent from the teacher in charge. Similar bans are already in place in the UK, France and Portugal.

Trouble in Germany

In Germany, the ban on cell phones in schools is being discussed from time to time without a decision being made yet. After all, something like this is not considered easy as education is the responsibility of the federal states that do not follow a single line on this issue. However, according to a recent survey by the Insa Institute, 60% of respondents support the ban.

“I think it’s better to leave the relevant decision to the schools themselves, if they want they can ban the use of mobile phones in the school regulations,” Lower Saxony Education Minister Julia Willy of the Green Party told the German newspaper Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung . Conversely, in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein, Culture Minister Karin Prien, who belongs to the Christian Democratic Party (CDU), is in favor of the ban.

According to research by the University of Augsburg that was recently published and summarizes the results of other research in several European countries, banning mobile phones in schools generally has positive effects on the lesson and on the sociability of children. In addition, the ban limits the possibilities for cybermobbing against other students.

However, teachers in Germany say they are against it. “It is impossible to implement a complete ban for all ages,” warns Stefan Diehl, president of the teachers’ union, speaking to the German News Agency (dpa). If nothing else, because many parents want to be able to communicate with their children at any time.