Smartphones in schools: Lower Saxony and Saxony against blanket bans

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Whether the use of smartphones in schools should be banned across the board for pupils continues to be hotly debated at state and federal level. The topic was now on the agenda in both the state parliaments of Lower Saxony and Saxony. Lower Saxony's Minister of Education Julia Willie Hamburg (Greens) and Saxony's Minister of Education Conrad Clemens (CDU) both rejected blanket bans and are currently focusing on dialog and broadly coordinated recommendations.

Regulation at federal level

In the view of Education Minister Hamburg, calls for blanket bans on cell phone use fall short of the mark. Recommendations for action, on the other hand, could give schools legal certainty. She also spoke out against the states going it alone. These would not be effective. Accordingly, Hamburg wants to advocate uniform nationwide recommendations and “press ahead with this”. It may therefore come as a surprise that the governing coalition of the SPD and Alliance 90/The Greens in the Lower Saxony state parliament brought the issue to the plenary session itself with a motion. However, this also allowed them to be one step ahead of the opposition so that the nationally smouldering debate did not slip away within the state.

In Saxony, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) had tabled a motion in the state parliament calling for a ban on cell phones in elementary school by law. It did not achieve the required majority in parliament. Only the AfD voted in favor. Minister of Education Clemens was not completely averse to a blanket ban, but currently prefers to invite people to a so-called “cell phone summit” on August 28. There, members of parliament, teachers, and experts could discuss the topic in an “open-ended” manner.

In the debates in both countries, it was repeatedly pointed out that numerous schools have already introduced regulations on the use of cell phones during lessons. However, as reported by dpa, the Verband Bildung und Erziehung (VBE) in Lower Saxony, among others, has criticized the fact that there are no concrete recommendations for action to date. Franz-Josef Meyer, state chairman of the VBE Lower Saxony, explained: “Schools often feel overwhelmed and left alone when it comes to this issue. The respective oppositions in the state parliaments put forward similar arguments, but also referred in part to the schools retaining their responsibilities.

Unilateral action by the states

Hesse and Bremen, among others, have already spoken out in favor of clearer rules and bans. Bremen was particularly quick to get its act together. As early as June 1, cell phones will be banned in primary and secondary schools up to the 10th grade. This decision was published in mid-May of this year.

Hesse is still working on a corresponding ban, which is to apply from the 2025/2026 school year. The bill passed the first parliamentary hurdle in March of this year, with the majority of the black-red state government. The state parliament is finally expected to pass the “Act to amend the Hessian School Act” before the summer vacations. If the changes to the law go through as planned, the private use of cell phones, tablets, and smartwatches will be prohibited in all Hessian schools from August. However, teachers and schools can still allow the use of private devices for teaching purposes.

Politicians have a responsibility

In its latest report on the well-being of children in the digital age, the OECD called on policymakers to develop clear guidelines to help educators, guardians and caregivers to help children manage their use of digital technologies. The report emphasizes the need for evidence-based regulation and cross-sectoral government action in response to the widespread use of digital media by children. Effective measures to protect adolescents in the digital and school environment are needed to ensure that the responsibility to protect and promote healthy digital practices does not overburden parents and children. According to the OECD report, teachers, schools, and education systems play a crucial role in teaching children digital skills and social responsibility. However, this would require teachers to undergo appropriate further training, among other things.

(kbe)