A recent study has found evidence that a government ban on smartphone usage within schools has yielded significant benefits for the mental well-being and academic performance among middle school students in Norway. 

The research paper titled “Smartphone Bans, Student Outcomes, and Mental Health,” by Sara Abrahamsson, a postdoctoral student from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, revealed a dramatic 60% decrease in hospital visits related to psychological symptoms following the ban.

Moreover, students have reported a noticeable reduction in instances of bullying since the enforcement of the prohibition. 

Female students, who are heavier smartphone users than boys, saw higher GPAs and an increased likelihood of enrolling in advanced academic tracks, the latter hinting at the ban’s medium-term impacts. The effects are larger for girls in lower socioeconomic backgrounds. In contrast, the ban has shown no significant impact on the academic performance of male students.

The Norwegian government set in motion the initiative three years ago in all schools, enforcing strict measures prohibiting students from bringing smartphones and tablets to their classes. 

The Philippines is also eyeing a similar ban on smartphone usage within school premises with the intention of fostering a culture of reading among students.

In April, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to take decisive action on the matter, stressing the need to exert control over classroom environments. 

“We have no control over them outside the schools. But inside, the DepEd has jurisdiction to release a policy banning phones during class hours and inside classrooms,” the legislator said in an interview with dwIZ radio.