The party leaders agree that elementary school students should not use their mobile phones during school hours, including breaks. Instead, the mobile phones will be collected in the morning and not returned until the students go home.
In addition, teachers and principals will have the right to confiscate mobile phones, tablets, and smartwatches – "electronic communication devices" – from reluctant students.
The important thing is to have good and clear routines for handing in and out, says investigator Björn Hansson at a press conference.
Conflicts a transitional issue
Björn Hansson does not believe that conflicts over mobile phones between students and teachers will increase in the long run due to the collection.
It's a transitional issue. If you get a restriction, it can be perceived as negative. The schools we've talked to that have had this experience say that it went surprisingly quickly and that it's a transitional period (of conflicts). Implementation has gone smoothly if you've done the groundwork.
Education Minister Lotta Edholm (L) says that it's up to the schools to handle any disciplinary problems that may arise when the mobile ban is implemented.
Based on the legislation that exists, it's up to the schools. It's not just about mobile phones, but about some students behaving unacceptably, she says.
The benefits can be many. Students will feel better, find it easier to concentrate, and run less risk of digital harassment. Seven out of ten surveyed principals experience increased safety in school, reports Björn Hansson.
The mere presence of mobile phones has a negative impact on students' working memory, says Edholm.
Analog is best
The tightening that the government wants to introduce is already a reality at many schools. According to a report from the National Agency for Education, mobile phones are collected at eight out of ten elementary schools. With an explicit legal requirement, the government thus wants to make all schools mobile-free.
It's important that we reduce the presence of mobile phones and screens in school. Research is clear, the best conditions for developing basic skills such as reading and writing are found in analog environments and with analog tools, says Edholm.
The law can come into force on July 1, 2026, according to the investigation. Exceptions to the mobile ban can be made if special reasons exist, for example medical ones.
