Greece will enforce a ban on mobile phones in schools, starting September 11.
Remain in School Bag
It is a move aimed at enhancing students' focus and reducing distractions, according to Digi24.
This new regulation, announced by Greek Education Minister Kyriakos Pierakakis, is summed up by the slogan, “Mobile phones should remain in the school bag.”
Students found violating this rule will face a one-day suspension, with repeated offenses potentially leading to longer suspensions. More severe penalties, including expulsion, could be imposed for students who record videos of their peers or teachers.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has acknowledged that while compliance may not be immediate, the goal is to clearly instruct students, parents, and teachers about the new rule’s importance in maintaining focus on education.
Meanwhile, Greece is not alone in this approach. France and the Netherlands are also instituting similar measures.
Improved Student Test Scores
In France, starting January 2025, primary and middle school students will be required to store their smartphones in lockers during school hours.
This policy will be trialed in nearly 200 schools from the beginning of the 2024/2025 academic year, with the potential for an extension of this "digital break" based on its success. Similarly, the Netherlands will ban smartphones in secondary schools from January, with elementary schools following suit in September.
In the United States, the impact of mobile phone bans is becoming evident. Los Angeles' Dymally High School, which implemented a smartphone ban using Yondr's magnetic pouches, has reported improved student test scores and a reduction in school fights.
The pouches, costing about $12,000 for 750 units, are designed to keep phones secured during school hours. Despite some students finding ways to circumvent the system, California legislators are looking to extend such bans statewide, anticipating similar positive outcomes.
