Baden-Württemberg plans statewide smartphone ban in schools

The Ministry of Education in Baden-Württemberg is planning a comprehensive ban on the private use of smartphones and other digital devices in public schools. Under the principle ‘When school is in session, the phone takes a break,’ the proposed regulation would apply to all grade levels and school types from the start of the first lesson until the end of the last, including breaks.

Exceptions are planned for lunch breaks, emergencies, and specific health-related needs, such as using apps to monitor blood sugar levels. Pedagogical use of mobile devices for classroom instruction remains permitted. The initiative follows a coalition agreement between the CDU and the Greens to establish uniform statewide rules, replacing the current system where individual schools set their own policies. The regulation is targeted for implementation in the 2027/28 school year.

Alongside these restrictions, the ministry aims to strengthen media literacy and education. This includes integrating social media topics into subjects like civics, starting as early as the first grade. Other regional educational initiatives include the use of Augmented Reality apps to teach history and the introduction of psychological counseling services in schools to support student mental health.