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Singapore Extends Secondary School Phone and Smartwatch Ban to the Full Day Starting January

Officials frame the move as a push for healthier screen habits, reflecting a broader global shift.

Overview

  • The Ministry of Education will require students to store devices in designated lockers or in their school bags throughout the school day.
  • Schools may grant limited exceptions for specific needs, with permissions tightly monitored.
  • The update broadens an existing in-class prohibition to cover recess, co-curricular activities and enrichment periods.
  • Officials say excessive screen use displaces sleep, physical activity and social interaction, correlating with poorer well-being.
  • Coverage places the decision within wider policy moves, with UNESCO noting bans in nearly 40% of education systems and reports of Malaysia and Australia advancing youth social-media restrictions.