Learning without distraction - New Zealand bans cell phones in schools
The new conservative government in New Zealand wants to ban cell phones in all schools in future. The plan announced during the election campaign will be implemented in the first 100 days of his term of office, said Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who was sworn in at the beginning of the week, during a visit to a school in Auckland.
"I will not stand idly by and watch educational successes decline, as has been the case in recent years," the head of government wrote on the X platform (formerly Twitter).
According to his National Party, the aim is to improve pupils' concentration and performance, as the party writes on its website. Many schools have already achieved positive results following a cell phone ban - even abroad.
France had already banned cell phones in schools in 2018, while the Netherlands and the UK want to follow suit. The issue is also being discussed in Germany, but the German Teachers' Association only recently spoke out against an absolute ban.
Ministers should also hand in cell phones
"To reverse the decline in performance, pupils need to focus on their work during their precious lesson time," writes the National Party. The decline in performance over the past 30 years not only endangers the future livelihood of children, but also New Zealand's prosperity. Ministers and MPs should also hand in their smartphones during cabinet and parliamentary group meetings in order to be able to work in a more focused manner.
Luxon had already caused an outcry this week when he announced his intention to overturn some of the drastic anti-tobacco laws of the previous left-wing government. The coalition, which also includes the populist NZ First party, wants to use the move to finance tax cuts.
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- Despite the controversy surrounding his plans to lift some anti-tobacco laws, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon remains committed to banning cell phones in New Zealand schools, following in the footsteps of countries like France and the Netherlands.
- To demonstrate their support for the cell phone ban, members of the National Party, including Prime Minister Luxon, have agreed to hand in their own cell phones during cabinet and parliamentary group meetings.
- In a bid to improve pupil concentration and academic performance, the newly-elected government in New Zealand has proposed a nationwide ban on cell phones in schools, with positive outcomes reported in many schools around the world.
- While the move to forbid cell phones in schools has received widespread support, there are concerns in Germany that an outright ban may not be effective in addressing the issue of distracted learning.
- Echoing the sentiments of the National Party, Prime Minister Luxon has claimed that the decline in educational performance over the last 30 years is a threat not only to the futures of New Zealand's children but also to the country's economic prosperity.
- In a recent post on the X platform (formerly Twitter), Prime Minister Luxon expressed his concern about the impact of unchecked cell phone use in classrooms, stating that he will not allow educational successes to decline any further under his watch.
Source: www.stern.de
