Legislative assembly votes down proposal restricting device usage in elementary educational institutions. - Legislative body vetoes school-wide mobile phone prohibition in primary schools.
The Saxon State Parliament in Germany has voted against a proposal to ban cell phones in primary schools. A motion from the Alliance for Progress and Social Justice (APS) fell short of securing a majority, with votes only coming from the APS, the AfD, and independent MP Matthias Berger. The ruling CDU had previously expressed opposition to the ban.
However, Culture Minister Conrad Clemens (CDU) expressed surprise support for the ban, stating that most primary schools already have internal regulations in place. He announced a "results-oriented cell phone summit" on August 28, inviting MPs, teachers, and other experts to attend.
The CDU's parliamentary business manager, Sören Voigt, had earlier explained that everyone agreed on the need to limit cell phone usage due to distractions in primary schools. He emphasized that schools handle this issue independently and questioned if everything should be regulated by law.
The APS advocated for a comprehensive concept for digital media use, calling for a ban on private cell phones and a training program for teachers. They highlighted practices in other federal states where children primarily focus on essential skills like reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Some argued that cell phones serve as valuable educational tools, while others cited concerns over parental contact and the importance of teaching responsible technology use. The SPD, for instance, expressed trust in schools to implement their own rules without a top-down ban.
Federal Education Minister Karin Prien (CDU) had recently voiced her support for banning private cell phone use in primary schools, with several federal states and European countries already implementing similar measures. Nevertheless, the Saxon State Parliament has decided against such a ban.
An ongoing debate exists over the merits of banning cell phones in schools. Proponents argue that it minimizes distractions, improves social interaction, and decreases cyberbullying risks. Meanwhile, opponents see cell phones as educational tools, critical for parental contact, and essential for teaching digital literacy. The rejection of the ban in Saxony suggests the state parliament currently favors a more liberal approach to technology use in schools.
- The APS, advocating for a comprehensive digital media use concept, proposed a ban on private cell phones in primary schools and a training program for teachers, believing that such measures could help primary school students focus on essential skills like reading, writing, and arithmetic.
- Despite Federal Education Minister Karin Prien's support for banning private cell phone use in primary schools, and similar measures being implemented in several federal states and European countries, the Saxon State Parliament has chosen to prioritize a more liberal approach to technology use in schools, opting against a ban on cell phones in primary schools.
