Key facts
- New South Wales will limit classroom screen time and promote pen-and-paper learning.
- Kindergarten to Year 2 students will have a 15-minute daily limit on individual devices.
- Older students will have increased daily limits, up to 45 minutes for Years 5 and 6.
- High school students will have device use capped at 25% to 50% of subject time.
- Screen limits will be recommended next year and mandatory from 2028.
- The policy aims to reduce the cumulative impact of screen time on student development.
The New South Wales government is set to implement strict caps on screen time in public school classrooms, alongside a push for increased "pen and paper" learning. These new regulations, which will be recommended next year and become mandatory in 2028, follow similar announcements from the Victorian government and suggestions from federal education minister Jason Clare regarding a "digital detox" for students.
Under the proposed rules, students in Kindergarten to Year 2 will be limited to 15 minutes of daily learning on individual devices. Older primary school students will have slightly more time, with up to 30 minutes for Years 3 and 4, and 45 minutes for Years 5 and 6. For high school students, device usage will be restricted to 25% of subject time for Years 7 to 10, and up to 50% for senior students. The government also plans new guidelines to limit homework involving screens, advising against it for children younger than Year 5, and recommending at least one hour of pen-and-paper learning daily.
New South Wales Education Minister Prue Car stated that research indicates excessive screen use is a significant problem, impacting reading and writing skills, and that parents desire intentional screen use rather than its default application. Dr. Helen Goodwin, the state's chief paediatrician, added that excessive screen time negatively affects crucial daily activities supporting healthy growth and development. The policy aims to reduce the cumulative impact of screen time on students' development while maintaining digital literacy as part of the curriculum. Some teacher and parent groups have supported these screen limit proposals.