Europeans start banning cell phones in the classroom

Some European countries have started to ban the use of cell phones and electronics in the classroom. After Finland and France announced the measure, the Dutch government announced on Tuesday (4) that it will not allow the use of cell phones, tablets and smart watches in classrooms in the Netherlands. The ban, taken from academic research, aims to avoid distractions for students with the use of these devices and should come into force from 2024.

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Devices will only be allowed if they are specifically needed, for example during digital skills classes, for medical reasons or for people with disabilities. “While mobile phones are intertwined with our lives, they do not belong in the classroom,” Education Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf said in a statement.

The ban is the result of an agreement between the ministry, schools and related organizations. The Dutch minister also pointed out that schools can define the best way to organize the ban, but the legal rules will be published if no significant changes are noticed, until the beginning of next year.

“Students need to be able to concentrate and they need to have the opportunity to study well. Cell phones are a nuisance, scientific research shows. We need to protect students against this”, reinforced Dijkgraaf.