New rules for mobile phone use at schools in MV: distraction ADE!

New rules for mobile phone use at schools in MV: distraction ADE!

There is excitement in the school area: the use of cell phones in schools is increasingly regulated in Germany, and each federal state has its own approaches. Especially the developments in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania stand out where schools are now in charge when it comes to dealing with private smartphones. The Minister of Education Simone Oldenburg has formulated clear recommendations that offer schools a certain flexibility, but also set up strict guidelines.

in grades 1 to 9, the use of cell phones is expressly prohibited throughout the school. This not only includes teaching, but also breaks and school events outside of school. The students should be able to learn without distractions, said Oldenburg. Use is only allowed in clearly defined exceptional cases - for example for urgent calls to family or for health reasons. Teachers receive more control through the exclusion of private devices, which not least serves to combat distractions, computer addiction and bullying.

regulations and recommendations for schools

The recommendations were developed together with representatives of school, parent and teacher associations, which underlines the practical relevance of these measures. Many schools have already put their own rules into force, while others should have consultations by March 2024 at the latest to adapt their regulations. There are no specifications for the custody of the smartphones in order not to put a strain on schools, but reference is made to the responsibility of the school authorities who are responsible for the infrastructure.

An interesting aspect is that in grades 10 to 12 private smartphones can be allowed under certain conditions. There is already the possibility that the use of cell phones from class 7 can be approved for special learning situations. This means that schools have the chance to find pragmatic solutions and to promote dealing with digital media.

The importance of cell phone usage rules in other federal states