Singapore’s Ministry of Education announced Sunday that it will impose a significantly stricter ban on the use of smartphones and smartwatches in secondary schools, effective from January. This move is part of a growing international effort to combat digital distractions in educational settings.
Currently, students in secondary schools within the digitally-connected city-state are barred from using their devices only during lesson time. The new regulation will expand this prohibition to include non-lesson time throughout school hours.
Under the toughened policy, students will be required to keep all personal mobile devices in designated storage areas, such as lockers or school bags, for the duration of the school day.
The ministry stated that the objective is “to create a school environment that prioritises students’ learning and enhances their engagement, fostering healthier habits on screen use and better well-being.”
cited evidence that “Screen use among students has been shown to displace important activities such as sleep, physical activity and social interactions with friends and family.”
Schools will be granted discretion to allow exceptions for smartphone use “where necessary.”
Singapore’s decision aligns with a global trend. According to UNESCO, 40 percent of education systems worldwide have now implemented bans on smartphones in schools.
The move follows similar, and in some cases, even more stringent actions globally. For example, Australia is set to introduce a world-first ban on social media for all individuals under the age of 16 next week.
