Federal Education Ministers Dismiss Nationwide Mobile Phone Ban in Schools

The prospect of a standardized national regulation for mobile phone bans in schools has been ruled out by Germany's education ministers. During a recent conference, Simone Oldenburg, the President of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK) and Minister of Education in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, emphasized that due to the federal structure of Germany, such a ban is not feasible. Each federal state operates under its own set of guidelines that are not drastically different from one another.

Oldenburg stated that rather than focusing solely on mobile phone usage regulations, it is crucial to prioritize comprehensive media education. She noted the necessity for students to develop skills in navigating social media, an area where schools have limited control. According to her, there is a pressing need for health protection and youth media protection.

Federal Minister of Education Karin Prien, representing the CDU, echoed Oldenburg's sentiments, highlighting that schools can only exert limited influence over smartphone usage among students. Many students keep their phones with them even at night, which presents additional challenges. Minister Prien pointed out that children often encounter various dangers online, including violence, pornography, extremism, and cyber-grooming, underscoring the state's responsibility to provide protection.

To address these concerns, Prien announced the formation of an expert commission that will involve the participation of state representatives. This commission is expected to formulate recommendations on how to manage digital media and social networks effectively, with preliminary findings anticipated by early next year.

Public opinion appears to favor restrictions on mobile phone usage in schools. A recent survey conducted by YouGov for the news agency dpa revealed that over 90% of respondents support limitations on personal mobile phone use in educational settings. The survey indicated that 50% of participants advocate for an outright ban on personal phone use, while 41% favor restrictions during specific hours. Only 9% believe that personal phone use should not be prohibited at all.

Several European countries, including France and the Netherlands, have already implemented mobile phone bans in classrooms. Italy is set to introduce a ban on smartphone usage in all grade levels starting from the 2025/2026 academic year, with existing restrictions preventing students under 15 from using phones during class.