Denmark To Ban Mobile Phones In Schools and After-School Clubs

Denmark is set to ban mobile phones in schools and after-school clubs following a government commission's recommendation. The government will change existing legislation to make all comprehensive primary and lower secondary schools phone-free. This means almost all children between 7 and 16-17 years old will be required by law not to bring their phones to school. The government had previously refused to introduce such a law, but has now made a U-turn. The Danish wellbeing commission was set up to investigate growing dissatisfaction among children and young people. The commission's report raised concerns over the digitisation of children's lives and called for a better balance between digital and analogue life. One of the report's 35 recommendations was to ban phones from schools and after-school clubs. The minister for children and education stated that mobile phones do not belong in school and the government has started preparing a legislative amendment. There will be exceptions for children with special educational needs, but local authorities will have scope to make exceptions. The ban aims to reclaim schools as educational spaces where children can reflect without the distraction of mobile phones.