Mobile devices will continue to be allowed in educational institutions, according to recent announcements. - Education officials reject cell phone prohibition proposal
In the educational landscape of Germany, the use of mobile phones during school hours varies across different federal states.
In Bremen, the new school year has begun with stricter phone rules. Smartphones must be switched off on school grounds for primary and secondary schools up to grade 10. This move aims to minimize distractions and foster a more focused learning environment.
On the other hand, Brandenburg generally leaves phone use policies to individual schools. While smartphones will be banned from primary school classrooms, the approach tends to encourage responsible use rather than outright bans.
Berlin's Education Authority typically allows schools to set their own rules for phone use, but a comprehensive school-wide ban is not universally mandated. However, a debate over a comprehensive phone ban in Berlin schools is ongoing, with three family and health district councilors from Marzlich-Hellersdorf, Steglitz-Zehlendorf, and Tempelhof-Schöneberg advocating for such a ban in an open letter in January.
It's important to note that as of August 2025, no verified plan for a city-wide or school-wide phone ban has been explicitly announced by Berlin’s Education Authority.
Susanne Gonswa, spokesperson for the education administration, stated that each school can independently regulate phone usage within its school and house rules. Meanwhile, the Berlin Schools Education Authority does not support a blanket phone ban in schools.
In contrast, Brandenburg plans to severely limit phone use in schools, but the specifics of these plans are yet to be announced.
For precise, up-to-date regulations, the official websites of these states’ education authorities or recent news reports would provide authoritative confirmation.
In light of the varying phone policies across German federal states, community discussions are essential for education-and-self-development in policy-and-legislation, particularly in politics surrounding general-news. For instance, Bremen and Brandenburg have distinct policies on mobile phone usage in schools, with Bremen adopting stricter rules while Brandenburg encourages individual school policies. Meanwhile, Berlin's Education Authority primarily allows schools to set their own policies, with a debate ongoing for a comprehensive ban, yet no definite plan has been announced as of August 2025. In the context of politics and policy, vocational training could potentially include courses on digital communication and responsible phone use as part of comprehensive education and development.
