School barrage of mobile phone usage imminent in Thuringia, as authorities set to enforce a ban starting at school hours
In the upcoming school year, Thuringia will implement a mobile phone ban in primary schools. The Thuringian Ministry of Education has reminded primary schools to enforce existing regulations banning the private use of digital devices such as smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches during lessons, breaks, and after-school care.
The ban is based on the Thuringian School Act, which prohibits anything not explicitly allowed by the school or teacher, except for usage related to learning materials in class. Education Minister Christian Tischner stated the ban aims to protect young children from digital overload, encourage focus on lessons, and promote social interaction during breaks by reducing screen time.
However, the reactions of primary school students, teachers, and associations to this ban are not yet clear. Many school principals have criticized the Ministry's communication, with the short notice of the new regulation being another example of poor communication. The Thuringian Teachers' Association (tlv) has expressed skepticism about the mobile phone ban, and the demand to design the regulation in-house will create new work for teaching staff.
The tlv chairman, Tim Reukauf, believes the issue is being overblown. He stated, "We have always promoted a responsible and pedagogically guided use of digital media in schools." On the other hand, the Ministry of Education plans to widely implement language tests for five-year-olds in kindergartens no earlier than 2027, with the aim of addressing the varying prerequisites that children bring to school and compensating for any deficits.
Secondary schools have been advised to review and discuss their own rules but were not sent the letter urging the mobile phone ban. The Ministry of Education will send a corresponding letter to schools this week, explaining the regulation. The Teachers' Union finds this timeline unsatisfactory given the current challenges in schools.
The exact implementation of the regulation will be left to the schools, with teaching staff having to clarify where and how devices should be stored, which exceptions apply, and change the school rules. Exceptions to the ban will be made in emergency situations, for necessary parental communication, or in the context of lessons.
In summary, while the legal framework and official stance are clear, specific responses from affected groups—students, teachers, or educational organizations—are not yet reported or available. The ban is actively urged to be enforced in primary schools by the Education Ministry as per the state's School Act, with schools tasked with defining and applying clear rules against private digital device use during school hours.
- The ban on private use of digital devices in primary schools, a move towards education-and-self-development by promoting focus and social interaction, has sparked a political discussion, as the Thuringian Teachers' Association questions the necessity of such measures and criticizes the handling of the communication.
- As general-news unfolds, it remains to be seen how the mobile phone ban in Thuringian primary schools will be received and implemented by schools, teachers, and students, and whether this could set a precedent for similar policies in other education systems.
