Overview

• CDU state and parliamentary group leader Manuel Hagel called for a statutory, general prohibition on private smartphones during lessons.
• His plan would go beyond the Kultusministerium’s guidance, which recommends primary schools generally forbid private devices and leaves details to each school.
• Hagel argues a clear law would ease enforcement by shifting responsibility to legislators and backing teachers and administrators.
• The Greens rejected a blanket mandate as unsuitable for diverse school types, favoring school-level rules and media education.
• The push underscores Hagel’s positioning for the March 8, 2026 election and contrasts with Green lead candidate Cem Özdemir’s call to bar under‑16s from social media.