Good change in Austria: mobile phones are banned in schools across the country

All Austrian schools will be banned from utilizing mobile phones from 1 May. The limitation besides applies to school trips. The regulations besides specify situations where teachers can exempt students from the ban.

Austrian education minister Christoph Wiederkehr reported this on Monday. This is the first major decision of the Ministry of Education within the late established fresh coalition government. The ban was introduced in the form of an amendment to the regulation on rules for the establishment of school rules. So far, the government has prohibited the usage of "objects disrupting school work".

The fresh regulations prohibit students from utilizing mobile phones, smart phones and akin devices for digital communication until the eighth class – up to the age of 14. This limitation applies to both the interior of the school and to activities outside its territory and during school events. In practice, this means that these devices will not be available even during school trips.

In the event of a violation of the prohibition, the student will be obliged to return the telephone to the teacher and the device will be returned to him after classes. If the teacher considers that ‘parent situation requires this’, the telephone will be returned straight to the parent or guardian of the student.

The fresh regulation allows exceptions to the prohibition. The teacher may let the device to be utilized erstwhile needed in connection with the educational process or for medical reasons. In addition, students must be able to usage mobile phones in a way appropriate to their age during school trips lasting respective days.

Until now, mobile telephone bans in schools have been introduced either by individual union countries or by circumstantial educational institutions. Monday's decision of the Ministry of Education harmonises these issues throughout Austria.

Source: PAP / Tomasz Dawid Jędrzych