Cell phone ban: Ministry reminds schools to implement school law

In Thuringia, primary, community, and special primary schools have received a letter on “uniform state guidelines for the private use of digital devices”. It is intended to draw the schools' attention to the rules already laid down in the Education Act and also calls for the regulations to be “made mandatory in the house rules, with the involvement of the school conference”. Secondary schools have not received a letter in this form, but they are also called upon to “review their existing regulations on the private use of devices and to discuss the issue again in parents' meetings and committees.” This was announced by the Thuringian Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs in Erfurt on Thursday.

“Protection from digital overload”

Education Minister Christian Tischner (CDU) explained: “Primary school is a particularly sensitive development area for children. Restricting the private use of cell phones during core school hours serves to focus on lessons, promote social interaction, and protect against digital overload. During breaks, children should play, relax, or talk to each other and not stare at screens. A clear, age-appropriate framework for media use is pedagogically sensible and necessary.”

In the letter, schools are reminded that the use of smartphones, tablets, or smartwatches during lessons, breaks and after-school care is generally prohibited. This is already regulated in the Thuringian School Act under Section 30 (3a) – Anything that is not explicitly permitted by the school or teacher is also not permitted. At the same time, the School Act also makes it clear (Section 30 (1)) that Thuringian schools are not a digital-free space and that pupils must use digital learning materials or learning environments if they are used in lessons.

Internal school regulations still possible

It is important that the implementation is accompanied by media education programs, said Tischner. The use of digital devices should be permitted if it is pedagogically guided, medically necessary, or justified by an emergency. The current structure leaves enough room to continue to allow “school-specific” regulations that have already been tried and tested.

The ministry states that this could be implemented, for example, through cell phone cabinets or the use of flight mode. The aim of the regulations is “a consciously designed school environment in which media use is clearly regulated and pedagogically supported.” The letter is intended to sensitize schools to the implementation of the current legal situation. At the same time, the ministry announced its intention to monitor implementation at schools.

(kbe)