A majority of Dutch MPs are in favor of a nationwide ban on mobile phones in schools during the entire school day, including break times. This initiative follows existing regulations that prohibit phone use in classrooms.

The proposal, led by D66 MP Hanneke van der Werf, aims to create guidelines for secondary schools to either have students leave their phones at home or store them securely until the end of the school day. This approach seeks to extend the current classroom ban to cover all school hours.

Several political parties, including the largest opposition party GL-PvdA and coalition members NSC and BBB, along with five smaller parties, have expressed their support for the initiative. This backing indicates a likely majority in parliament for the proposed ban.

While van der Werf intends to introduce guidelines rather than enforce a strict law, the aim is to encourage schools to adopt a comprehensive mobile phone ban. The emphasis is on providing a framework for schools to follow in implementing the ban.

Primary schools in the Netherlands have already implemented a ban on smartphones since the beginning of the current school year, with exceptions for medical reasons or when phones are used for educational purposes. Early feedback suggests positive impacts on pupils’ concentration and behavior. Teachers have reported improved communication among students and better overall behavior since the primary school ban was implemented.