Cabinet plans to bar mobile phones throughout school day
From 1 January 2027, pupils would also no longer be allowed to use their phones during breaks or in the school playground.
Follow-up to: Government wants phone-free school day from January Monday, 5 October 2026, 09:12
The Cabinet wants to extend the existing advice on mobile phones in schools to cover the entire school day. It is an urgent recommendation, not a statutory ban: schools retain room to work out the rule themselves.
Under the new Cabinet strategy, primary and secondary schools should also keep phones out of use during breaks and in assembly halls and on school grounds from 1 January 2027. The aim is peace and quiet, concentration and more direct contact between pupils. Exceptions will remain possible when a device is needed for education, a medical situation or a disability.
Since 2024, a nationwide agreement has already been in place not to use mobile phones during lessons, except when they are necessary for the lesson. The arrangements differ from school to school. Some schools require phones to be left at home, while others use lockers or bags in which devices are stored during the day.
The Cabinet cannot directly oblige schools to change their policies. The new measure is therefore a tightening of the national guideline. Schools must make their own arrangements for storage, exceptions, contact with parents and the consequences of breaches.
The underlying arguments go beyond distraction during lessons. The Cabinet also refers to screen time, addictive design choices and the influence of digital services on children. In the same strategy, the Cabinet wants research to be conducted into services such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Roblox, Fortnite, ChatGPT and Netflix.
Research into stricter school rules does not provide a clear-cut answer. A Maastricht study of 24 secondary schools found that a total ban did not automatically improve wellbeing or reduce problematic smartphone use or cyberbullying compared with a partial ban. The researchers therefore warn that a stricter rule does not automatically produce better outcomes.
The debate is therefore also about the role of schools and parents. Supporters see a clear national boundary as protection against social pressure and distraction. Opponents fear extra enforcement work, less scope for personal responsibility and problems for pupils who need their phones for medical or practical reasons. The new guideline is intended to allow those exceptions explicitly.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The Cabinet wants to extend the advice on mobile phones to cover the entire school day.
- The measure is not a statutory obligation.
- Schools currently differ in how they store phones and arrange exceptions.
- Research into the effects of total bans is inconclusive.
Left
Arguments A national boundary protects children from constant digital stimulation and social pressure. Schools should receive sufficient support and apply exceptions broadly for medical needs and pupils who are particularly vulnerable.
Values Equal opportunities, public protection and wellbeing.
Consequences Greater calm and contact at school are possible, but the government must invest in guidance and enforcement.
Centre
Arguments A common guideline can provide clarity, as long as schools retain room for tailored approaches and the effects are measured periodically. The rule should be linked to digital education, not just prohibition.
Values Proportionality, feasibility and evidence-based policy.
Consequences A phased introduction would limit problems, but differences between schools will remain.
Right
Arguments Schools and parents should remain primarily responsible for behaviour and upbringing. A national tightening of the rules could increase bureaucracy and enforcement disputes without evidence that a total ban produces better results.
Values Personal responsibility, autonomy and restrained government intervention.
Consequences Greater local freedom may allow for tailored approaches, but could also lead to wider differences between schools and families.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The start date, the status as a recommendation and the existing nationwide agreements were checked with NOS and Rijksoverheid. The summary of the Maastricht study was checked with ROA and has been worded cautiously.
- confirmed The Cabinet wants to keep mobile phones out of use throughout the school day from 1 January 2027. — NOS describes this Cabinet strategy and date. source
- confirmed It is an urgent recommendation, not a statutory obligation. — NOS reports that the Cabinet does not directly control phone use in schools. source
- confirmed A nationwide agreement on phone use during lessons has been in place since 2024. — Confirmed by Rijksoverheid. source
- confirmed A study of 24 schools found no automatic improvement resulting from a total ban. — Summary of the ROA Policy Brief. source
- confirmed The new strategy mentions TikTok, Instagram, Roblox and ChatGPT, among others. — These services are mentioned in the strategy document described by NOS. source
Editor's note
The extension to breaks and the school playground is a Cabinet recommendation, not a statutory obligation. Research into the effects of a total ban is mixed.Sources
The story so far
- Monday, 5 October 2026, 09:12 Government wants phone-free school day from January
- Monday, 5 October 2026, 12:13 Cabinet plans to bar mobile phones throughout school day (this article)
More on this in Dutch media
- NOS — „onderwijs mobiele telefoons”
- Het Parool — „onderwijs mobiele telefoons”
- Trouw — „onderwijs mobiele telefoons”