Hesse will introduce a ban on cell phones in schools from the 2025/26 school year!

Hesse will introduce a ban on cell phones in schools from the 2025/26 school year!

Something is happening in Hesse: After the summer holidays, a new ban on cell phones in schools will come into force. This regulation was passed in the state parliament in the third reading and is to be implemented from the 2025/26 school year. Education Minister Armin Schwarz (CDU) presents schools as “protection zones” in which students should be protected from the distractions and negative influences of social media. The law not only aims to protect young people, but also to expand media literacy, which is a fixed goal in education. [FAZ].

However, the new regulations differ slightly between school types. While there are no exceptions for primary schools, special exceptions can be introduced in secondary schools at secondary level I and II. For example, rooms for high school students could be exempt from these regulations. Private use is only permitted in justified individual cases, such as for medical reasons or emergencies. In cases of unauthorized use, cell phones will be temporarily confiscated until the end of the teaching day. This enables, among other things, the use of digital bus tickets for the way home, which cannot be neglected these days. Kultus Hessen adds that carrying mobile devices remains permitted.

Background to media literacy

What is actually behind this regulation? The increasing use of digital media has been proven to pose health risks for young people. According to studies by the WHO and OECD, there are worrying trends in media use that make it necessary to create a framework. The goal is not only to protect students from distractions, but also to sustainably promote their media skills. [bpb]. School policy is increasingly recognizing that the correct use of media and technologies is of central importance in preparing young people for the challenges of the digital future.

In times when artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies shape everyday life, such a regulation is just a small component in a multi-layered educational approach. School policy must not only respond to technological challenges, but also make a contribution to ensuring that students become critical and responsible users of digital media. So there is still a lot to do here and with a good hand, this new regulation can perhaps be the first step in the right direction.