Tightened regulations: The federal administration implementing stricter school guidelines for the commencement of the upcoming academic year
In a bid to enhance focus and social interaction among young learners, German states are implementing stricter policies regarding mobile phone use in schools, particularly for primary school students.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, grades one to four will receive an extra hour of German and math per week to strengthen basic skills. From the 2025/26 school year, all elementary schools in the region will receive a new digital tool to assess the learning level of future first-graders at the time of registration. School Minister Dorothee Feller (CDU) firmly rejects a blanket ban on mobile phones, instead relying on self-responsibility. Schools in North Rhine-Westphalia are developing their own, age-appropriate mobile phone rules in collaboration with teachers, students, and parents by autumn 2025.
In contrast, Hesse is taking a more stringent approach. Culture Minister Armin Schwarz (CDU) is the driving force behind these new rules. From the new school year, mobile phones are banned in elementary schools in Hesse. In secondary schools, mobile phones can only be used in exceptional cases, such as designated breaks or certain rooms. These strict rules are causing heated debates in schools, parent-teacher meetings, and the state parliament.
Thuringia, another German state, has a clear ban on the use of smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches during lessons, breaks, and after-school care, particularly for primary, community, and special primary schools. Secondary schools must review their rules but are also encouraged to restrict phone use. This policy aims to protect children from digital overload, improve social interaction, and focus on learning.
Across Germany, since September 2025, cell phones are banned in schools of the German-speaking community. Each state controls cell phone policies, so rules can vary. The focus tends to be on balancing educational use of digital tools with minimizing distractions and social isolation caused by private phone use during the school day.
81% of parents, according to the current Postbank Digital Study, support a ban on mobile phones in schools. 60% of parents want an age limit for the use of social media. The debate about mobile phone rules in schools continues in both Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia, reflecting a nationwide conversation about the role of technology in education and child development.
Sources:
[1] Bundesland-Politik: Mobiltelefone in Schulen
[3] Mobiltelefone in Schulen: Bundesländer unterscheiden sich
Other education-and-self-development initiatives include the implementation of stricter mobile phone policies in schools across German states, such as the ban on mobile phones in all schools in Hesse and the development of age-appropriate mobile phone rules in North Rhine-Westphalia. General news about these policies highlights heated debates, with 81% of parents supporting a ban on mobile phones in schools and 60% wanting an age limit for social media use.
