New Zealand Prime Minister Bans Mobile Phones In School To Raise Literacy Rates

We all know of the previous New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her progressive take on managing the country.

The country has since gotten a new prime minister, Christopher Luxon who is on the conservative side, reported DW.

During a school visit on 1 December, the new Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said that they will be banning mobile phones in schools in order to “tackle falling literacy rates in the country”.

“We are going to ban phones across New Zealand in schools.”

He says that doing so will stop disruptive behaviour and help students focus better in class.

Taking the example of the school that he was visiting, he says that they are doing a good job at banning mobile phones in school and it reflects in their students’ performance.

“You see good schools like this that have already taken that decision, and it’s been a longstanding practice getting great educational outcomes.”

Adding onto that, the new PM also said that he has a similar rule in place during cabinet meetings.

Furthermore, he adds that he will make having an hour of reading, writing and maths every day compulsory for all schools.

It was previously mentioned by New Zealand researchers that there is a falling literacy rate in schools which states that less than half of the youths in the country are up to par with the reading and writing standards for their age.

What is your take on this and what are your concerns with the education in our country? Let us know in the comments.

Also read: Sarawak Plans to Give Free Tertiary Education for Sarawakians in State-Owned Institutions by 2026