The Daily Populous Thursday May 1st, 2025 day edition
Authored by yle.fi and submitted by ControlCAD

Pupils will be able to use their phones in some circumstances, but they will need to get permission from teachers.

The Finnish Parliament voted on Tuesday to approve a law that restricts the use of mobile devices by pupils at primary and secondary schools.

The new rules are expected to come into force after the summer break, in August.

The law does not entirely ban the use of mobile phones at school, and their use will be permitted in certain situations. But generally, the use of phones during class time will be prohibited.

Pupils will need to get special permission from teachers to use their phones, to assist them in studies, or to take care of personal health-related matters, for example.

The new law also gives school staff members the authority to confiscate mobile devices from pupils if they have caused teaching or learning disruptions.

Late last year, Education Minister Anders Adlercreutz (SPP) emphasised that kids' digital skills will still be supported despite the phone restrictions.

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brokensaint91 on May 1st, 2025 at 04:07 UTC »

I remember when me and my sister got our first cellphones in the early 2000’s in middle school, my sister had hers taken away by the dean because “they were not allowed in schools” which sparked a conflict with the parents (my mother including) and the school board on the grounds for their child’s safety to call their parents on emergency situations. And we had the legendary Nokia 3310 for our first phones (I still use the same phone number to this day, which was my fathers phone number before then)

After reading the article, the title is misleading by a bit. “Finland Bans smartphones in classrooms during class”

Edit: forgot to add, my sister was outside in the school yard when the dean took the phone away. That’s what sparked the issue

justlurkingnjudging on May 1st, 2025 at 03:06 UTC »

“The law does not entirely ban the use of mobile phones at school, and their use will be permitted in certain situations. But generally, the use of phones during class time will be prohibited.

Pupils will need to get special permission from teachers to use their phones, to assist them in studies, or to take care of personal health-related matters, for example.

The new law also gives school staff members the authority to confiscate mobile devices from pupils if they have caused teaching or learning disruptions.”

This is how it was for me in school in the US (graduated 2016). It’s wild to me that it’s not still the norm.

ControlCAD on May 1st, 2025 at 02:47 UTC »

> Finnish Parliament voted on Tuesday to approve a law that restricts the use of mobile devices by pupils at primary and secondary schools.

> The new rules are expected to come into force after the summer break, in August.

> The law does not entirely ban the use of mobile phones at school, and their use will be permitted in certain situations. But generally, the use of phones during class time will be prohibited.