The new conservative government in New Zealand wants to ban cell phones in all schools in the future. The plan announced during the election campaign will be implemented in the first 100 days of his term in office, said Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who was sworn in at the beginning of the week, while visiting a school in Auckland.
“I will not stand idly by and watch educational success decline, as has been the case in recent years,” wrote the head of government on the X platform (formerly Twitter).
According to his National Party, this is intended to increase students’ concentration and performance, as the party writes on its website. Many schools have already achieved positive results after a cell phone ban – including abroad.
France had already banned cell phones in schools in 2018, and the Netherlands and Great Britain want to follow suit. The topic is also being discussed in Germany, but the German teachers’ association recently spoke out against an absolute ban.
Ministers should also hand over cell phones
“To reverse the decline in achievement, students must focus on their tasks during their precious class time,” writes the National Party. The decline in performance over the past 30 years not only endangers the future livelihood of children, but also the prosperity of New Zealand. Ministers and MPs should also hand over their smartphones during cabinet and parliamentary group meetings in order to be able to work more focused.
This week, Luxon caused an outcry when he announced that he wanted to overturn parts of the previous left-wing government’s drastic anti-tobacco laws. The coalition, which also includes the populist NZ First party, wants to use the move to finance tax cuts.
