Dutch phone ban in schools is a success, study finds
Facilitating learning
The ban on smart phones in schools in the Netherlands has facilitated learning, according to a new study commissioned by the Dutch government.
Concentration boost
Despite initial misgivings, the move has proved to increase secondary school students’ concentration in 75% of the classes, improve the social environment (59%) and generate better results (28%).
More than a year on
The Dutch government strongly recommended banning phones in schools in January 2024 and almost all schools in the Netherlands have done so, including almost two thirds of secondary schools.
Decrease in online bullying
One of the most notable benefits has been drop in online bullying, according to Dr Alexander Krepel, a researcher at the Kohnstamm Instituut.
Social safety improved
“It’s not possible to secretly take a picture of someone in the classroom and then spread it in a WhatsApp group, so there’s an increase in social safety,” he told The Guardian.
An uptick in personal engagement
He also flagged up the fact that students now engage more with one another, which is deemed positive despite the fact that engagement at times leads to conflict.
A more human atmosphere
“Especially in the breaks between the lessons, students would be on their phones and now they’re forced to talk … Maybe they also get into a fight a bit more often but schools, teachers and students are quite happy with how the atmosphere is better,” he said.
A break for teachers
Discipline is another area that was said to have benefitted from the ban with teachers no longer having to wrestle with the disruptive aspect of phones in class.
UNESCO's 2023 recommendation
Many countries have adopted the phone-free approach in schools with UNESCO calling for a ban in all instances aside from support learning back in 2023.
60 countries adopt ban
The UN agency has since found that 60 countries have chosen to take their recommendation on board, including Sweden, Italy and Hungary, while in Spain, such bans are in the hands of the individual regions.
Catalonia's upcoming measures
In Catalonia, for example, a blanket ban will be in place in the coming academic year for all stages of obligatory education in a bid to address concentration, learning and mental health issues, reports Diario.es.
