Federal Education Minister Proposes Ban on Personal Mobile Phone Use in Primary Schools

The new Federal Education Minister has advocated for a prohibition on the use of personal mobile phones in primary schools. The Minister emphasizes that recent studies indicate prolonged screen time can negatively impact student learning outcomes, social skills, and mental health. The ongoing discourse around mobile phone usage in educational institutions is primarily a matter for individual states, yet the Minister has made her stance clear.

In her view, personal mobile phone use should be banned in primary schools, while secondary schools should establish age-appropriate regulations. The Minister highlighted that the education ministers from various states are currently engaged in thorough discussions on this subject. Drawing from her experience as the former Minister of Education in Schleswig-Holstein, she reported that schools and most parents appreciate having clear and consistent guidelines on mobile phone usage.

In addition to her position on mobile phones, the Minister announced a nationwide initiative to implement mandatory language assessments for all four-year-olds. This effort aims to enhance children's readiness for school by strengthening parental involvement and providing targeted support in kindergartens. The Minister noted that challenges often stem from the home environment rather than the kindergarten setting. She asserted that without assessment, there can be no effective support, emphasizing the importance of identifying vocabulary gaps and deficiencies in German language skills among young children.

To address these issues, the Minister plans to introduce diagnostic tests for all four-year-olds across the country, along with compulsory support for children who require additional assistance. Furthermore, the government will reinvigorate language-focused kindergartens and bolster facilities in socio-economically disadvantaged areas, particularly around schools involved in the 'Startchancen' program. Substantial investments will be made in kindergartens and schools over the coming years, with a significant portion of the funding sourced from a special infrastructure budget.