Overview
- Bremen's new policy prohibits private smartphone use for students through grade 10 starting June 1, with enforcement by school staff.
- The ban is grounded in research linking smartphone use to reduced learning ability, social interaction, and physical activity among students.
- Exceptions will be made for medical reasons, while upper secondary schools retain autonomy over phone-use policies.
- Bremen follows Hesse as the second German state to restrict phones in schools, with Hesse's policy set to begin in the 2025/26 school year.
- Federal Education Minister Karin Prien has called for a nationwide ban in primary schools, emphasizing the need for unified guidelines based on scientific evidence.