Parents more positive about phone ban after introduction.

Parents more positive about phone ban after introduction.

Since January 1st this year, the mobile phone ban applies in secondary schools. The group of parents who are positive about the mobile phone ban in class has risen from 61% to over 80% last year. Support has also increased for a ban on mobile phones in the whole school, although this group is smaller. A small majority of 54% supports this, compared to 36% before the introduction. Moreover, parents see a positive effect of the new rules on their children. This comes from a recent survey among 544 parents in our Landelijk Ouderpanel.

Parents and their children positive about the mobile phone ban 

In February 2023, we asked parents: What do you think about a ban on mobile phones in class or even in the entire school building? The majority of parents (64%) were already in favor of a mobile phone ban in class then, but that group has grown a lot. Parents are less positive about a ban in the whole school. 

Parents notice the effects of the mobile phone ban

Recent Research shows that children can focus better on their schoolwork without a mobile phone in class. A quarter of the surveyed parents also notice this effect in their child and see they can focus better in class.

More social interactions
The research also shows that mobile phone use distracts children from real contact with each other. Over a quarter of parents see their child making contact more easily and having more social interactions since the mobile phone ban. Moreover, 17% of the surveyed parents say the atmosphere in class has improved. 

Less personal responsibility
But besides all positive effects, 58% of parents also see downsides to the mobile phone ban. About a quarter say the ban makes their child less responsible and does not help them learn to use a mobile phone wisely. It is also mentioned that their child can no longer log in to the school app and is hard to reach during class or the school day. 

Children less positive about the mobile phone ban than their parents

It stands out that children are less positive about the mobile phone ban than their parents. While four out of five parents say they support a mobile phone ban in class, almost half of the children say they do not support it. This difference also appears in parents’ and children’s opinions about the ban in the whole school. Over half of parents support it, but only 17% of children are positive about it.

Positive about a ban in class, less positive about a ban in the whole school

Mobile phones are banned in most schools in class, but not in the whole school building. Of the parents who participated in the research, 80% support the mobile phone ban in class. When it is about a ban in the whole school building, 54% supports it.

Need for clear rules about phones in class
Schools decide their own policies about phone use in class and in the school building. This sometimes causes confusion because about one in ten parents feels that the school has not informed them enough about the new rules. Last year, Lobke Vlaming, director of Ouders & Onderwijs, already called for a mandatory school policy on this topic.

About the research   

In the research ‘phones in class,’ we asked parents their opinion about the mobile phone ban and the school’s rules about it. 544 parents with a child in secondary education participated. Read the report here. 

Would you also like to participate through short online polls about important school topics? Then sign up for the Landelijk Ouderpanel.  

Questions and contact

Do you have questions about the mobile phone ban? Or do you have other questions about your child’s education? Then contact our advice point via Whatsapp, mail, or phone.