The New South Wales government has announced it will implement limits on screen time in public school classrooms and encourage daily “pen and paper” learning. These new regulations are set to become mandatory in NSW schools from 2028, following recommendations next year.
Under the new rules, students in Kindergarten to Year 2 will be restricted to 15 minutes of learning on individual devices daily. Older primary students will have increased allowances, with Years 3 and 4 permitted up to 30 minutes, and Years 5 and 6 up to 45 minutes per day.
For high school students, restrictions will vary by subject. Those in Years 7 to 10 will have device use limited to a quarter of their subject time, while senior high school students can use devices for up to half their learning time. New guidelines will also advise against screen use for homework for children younger than Year 5 and recommend a minimum of one hour per day for pen and paper learning.
NSW education minister Prue Car stated that government research indicates excessive screen use is a problem, and parents desire intentional rather than default screen usage. Dr Helen Goodwin, the state’s chief paediatrician, added that too much screen time affects daily activities crucial for healthy growth and development.