Netherlands to ban electronic devices in classrooms in 2024

Mobile phones, tablets and smartwatches will be practically banned in classrooms in the Netherlands starting on January 1, 2024, the government announced on Tuesday.

The measure aims to limit distractions during classes, according to Education Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf.

Devices will only be allowed if they are specifically needed, for example during lessons on digital skills, for medical reasons or for people with disabilities.

Although cell phones are part of our lives, they should not be used in classrooms, Dijkgraaf said.

Students have to be able to concentrate and must have the opportunity to study well, and cell phones are a nuisance, scientific studies show, he added.

The measure is the result of an agreement between the ministry, schools and related organizations.

Schools will be able to find their own way to organize the regulations, Dijkgraaf said, but added that there will be new legal rules if this does not yield sufficient results by the summer of 2024.