Danish schools prepare for a total ban on mobile phones

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced plans to ban mobile phones in schools. The rule will apply to folkeskoler for children aged six to sixteen. The ban covers both class time and breaks in the playground.

The announcement followed Denmark's worst ever results in the Pisa global education survey. Pisa measures the knowledge of 15-year-old students across 91 countries. Frederiksen linked the low scores to screen time. She said adults allowed children to spend too many hours in front of screens.

Education Minister Magnus Heunicke said the ban will be the new normal. Exceptions will exist for health needs like diabetes or dyslexia support.

A previous proposal allowed individual school leadership to set phone policies. That plan paused due to the election in March. The new proposal specifically calls for a total ban. Minister of Economic Affairs Pia Olsen Dyhr noted that society had let children down.

This news was reported by The Local.