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Mobile Phone Ban in Thuringia Schools Protects Primary Students
The new school year in Thuringia, Germany, is set to begin on Monday for approximately 18,310 children, marking a fresh start in their lives. This year, the focus is on protecting these young minds from digital overload and promoting a conducive learning environment.
In a bid to ensure that primary school students engage more with their peers and less with screens, the Thuringian Ministry of Education has implemented a ban on mobile phone use during school days. The ban, already a common practice, is primarily aimed at protecting children from digital overload, promoting focus on lessons, and encouraging social interaction.
The ban, rooted in existing rules from the Thuringian Education Act, prohibits private use of digital devices during lessons, breaks, and after-school care unless explicitly allowed by the school or teacher. Education Minister Christian Tischner emphasized that a clear and age-appropriate framework for media use is pedagogically necessary. While digital devices are not entirely banned from schools (they must be used for learning if integrated into lessons), private use is restricted to support children’s well-being and learning environment.
Schools have discretion in implementing the mobile phone ban, such as by collecting devices or enabling airplane mode. The ban is a significant step towards creating a distraction-free learning atmosphere, allowing children to focus on their education and engage in play, relaxation, and communication with peers rather than screen use during breaks.
As part of the school introduction celebration, children will receive candy bags, symbolic of a fresh start. Traditionally, these bags are filled with stationery. This event, which takes place before the start of the new school year, is a celebration for most children, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.
It is important to note that the number of children starting school this year is significantly fewer than last year, with 1,009 fewer students. Despite this, the schools in Thuringia are ready to welcome the new cohort and provide them with a nurturing and enriching educational experience.
In the Thuringian Education Act, there is a clear policy prohibiting private use of digital devices during lessons, breaks, and after-school care for primary students, establishing a conducive atmosphere for education and self-development through vocational training and learning, while reducing digital overload. The ban on mobile phone use is intended to promote a distraction-free environment, allowing children to engage more in education-and-self-development activities like vocational training during breaks.
