New Zealand’s conservative Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced on Friday that cellphones will face a ban in schools, as his newly formed government aims to address the country’s declining literacy rates.
New Zealand’s schools, which were previously known for having some of the highest literacy scores globally, have experienced a decline in reading and writing proficiency, leading to concerns among researchers about a potential classroom crisis.
Prime Minister Luxon has pledged to implement a ban on phones in schools within his initial 100 days in office, drawing inspiration from a policy tested with varying outcomes in the United States, United Kingdom, and France. Luxon believes that this measure will curb disruptive behavior and enhance student focus.
“We are going to ban phones across New Zealand in schools. We want our kids to learn and we want our teachers to teach,” he said.
Researchers from New Zealand charity Education Hub warned of a “literacy crisis” in 2022, finding more than one-third of 15-year-olds could barely read or write.
“That something must be done to address the distressingly low literacy rates in Aotearoa New Zealand is clear,” they wrote.
Luxon’s newly inaugurated conservative government, which assumed office on Monday, has encountered controversy in its initial week.
Medical professionals cautioned that the nation is on the brink of a public health “tragedy” following the government’s abrupt decision to discard globally renowned tobacco control measures. These measures were designed to ban the sale of cigarettes to individuals born after 2008.
Luxon has additionally approved the resumption of offshore oil and gas exploration, abandoning one of former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s key climate change policies.