No smartphones during school hours in secondary schools from 2026: MOE

Smart devices, including smartphones and smart watches, are set to be banned during school hours in secondary schools.

This includes during recess, co-curricular activities (CCAs), remedial lessons, and so on.

The new initiative will kick in from January 2026, and are part of tightened measures by the Ministry of Education (MOE) to target screen use among students.

Currently, smart devices are only banned during lesson time, but allowed during non-lesson school hours.

Kept in lockers or bags

Students will still be allowed to bring their devices to school.

During school hours, the devices will be kept in designated storage areas, such as lockers or school bags.

Students may be allowed to use smartphones where necessary, MOE said.

In a Nov. 30 Instagram post, Minister of State for Education Jasmin Lau explained that the measures are meant to help students "find a healthy balance" between technology and education.

"As a parent, I am concerned about the environment our children grow up in," she wrote.

"I hope parents will continue partnering with us to guide our children toward a balanced and thoughtful use of technology!"

Top image from MOE and Canva