The parties want to introduce a national mobile ban in school.
The proposal, which during the spring has been out for consideration, receives a straight yes from some authorities. Others are more hesitant or have reservations.
The Swedish Teachers' Union has previously been critical of the mobile ban. That criticism remains – but the union says yes in its response to the proposal.
"The vast majority of schools today already have a mobile ban and have the opportunity to regulate this. The mobile ban has become a symbolic issue for the government that has received far too much focus", says Pia Rizell in a written comment to TT.
"It shifts the focus from what the government should focus on instead: Providing sufficient resources to the school, more qualified teachers and reducing the teachers' extremely high workload."
Lack of support
A mobile ban in itself will not change anything, according to the union.
"A mobile ban is far from the solution to the problems of safety and study peace in school. The solutions are smaller teaching groups, more staff and that students who need it receive special support", says Pia Rizell.
The Swedish School Leaders, which organizes principals and other leaders in the education sector, points out that over 80 percent of schools already apply a mobile ban today. The union is, however, in favor of a national ban at lower levels – but against introducing it in high school.
At the same time, the union, like several other responding authorities, notes that there is a lack of scientific support for the positive effects of a national mobile ban.
"Positive experiences"
Several municipalities, for example Nässjö, testify in their responses that their local ban has worked well.
"The high school in Nässjö that already today has a mobile ban throughout the school day has had positive experiences from the introduction, and there are already plans to introduce a mobile ban in all high schools", writes the municipality.
The School Inspectorate says no with reference to the fact that the existing regulations are better. At the same time, SKR (The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions) says no due to, among other things, additional costs and increased administrative burden.
In its response – which the representatives of the parties in the board have reserved themselves against – SKR writes that a ban can indeed be beneficial, but that what should be done today is up to the principals of each school unit.
(TT) The government and the Sweden Democrats want to introduce a national mobile ban in schools, including during breaks. In March this year, a proposal for an investigation on how a ban can be implemented through changes in the Education Act came.
The proposal is that the mobile ban as a main rule should apply throughout the school day in both the compulsory school forms and in after-school centers.
According to the proposal, "students' mobile phones should be collected at the beginning of each school day. Mobile phones should be returned no later than at the end of each school day."
The law change can, according to the investigation, come into force on July 1, 2026.
