A broad majority of the Danish Parliament has agreed to establish mobile-free primary and lower secondary schools and school-based leisure time facilities. The purpose of the agreement is to ensure a setting for in-depth studies, concentration, and communities for the benefit of the pupils.

Research indicates that over half of students in the 6th and 8th year are distracted by their own or others' screen use during lessons. In response, a significant parliamentary majority has agreed to minimise screen use during instructional time.

Mobile-free schools and school-based leisure time facilities

The agreement mandates a legal requirement for primary and lower secondary schools and school-based leisure facilities to be mobile-free starting from the 2026/2027 school year. The Ministry of Children and Education will provide a standard policy template for schools to adopt.

School boards and parent groups must create a local policy to ensure compliance with this requirement. The regulation will apply to smartphones and other private electronic devices with access to the internet. This does not include computers and tablets that are used as part of the instruction.

School and parental boards can include justified exceptions in their policies, such as allowing electronic device use to support students with disabilities.

Content filtering of non-relevant websites

Additionally, the agreement seeks to enhance focus and learning conditions by requiring content filtering tools that block access to non-educational or non-pedagogical websites. These can include social media, gaming, and shopping sites. The specific measures for ensuring students only access relevant content will be decided locally by each school.

For more information: https://uvm.dk/aktuelt/nyheder/2025/september/250930-ny-aftale-om-mobilfrie-folkeskoler-og-fritidstilbud/ 

Source: Eurydice Unit Denmark