'Living in an online world': Why this state is cutting back on classroom screen time
SBS News
β’Sun, 13 Sep 2026 05:31:42 +0000
π° What Happened
New South Wales will limit how much time students spend on screens in class. Daily device use for kindergarten to year 2 will be capped at just 15 minutes.
Schools will start the limits in the 2027 school year. The rules become mandatory in 2028 so teachers have time to adjust. Victoria has announced similar changes from 2027.
The government also recommends at least an hour a day of handwriting and reading on paper. Screens are not advised for homework in the early years, and devices are not recommended before Year 5.
π The Backstory
The policy follows falling scores in reading, writing and maths. NSW Education Minister Prue Car said teenagers spend as much as seven hours a day on screens.
'An entire generation of students are increasingly living in an online world,' Car said. She said the government has a duty to protect students' health and learning.
Other states are moving the same way. Victoria plans to cut classroom screen time from 2027, so the change is becoming national.
π― Why It Matters
If you go to school in NSW, your lessons will change. The plan is to rebuild reading and writing skills that pen and paper are thought to teach best.
New South Wales will limit how much time students spend on screens in class. Daily device use for kindergarten to year 2 will be capped at just 15 minutes.
Schools will start the limits in the 2027 school year. The rules become mandatory in 2028 so teachers have time to adjust. Victoria has announced similar changes from 2027.
The government also recommends at least an hour a day of handwriting and reading on paper. Screens are not advised for homework in the early years, and devices are not recommended before Year 5.
The policy follows falling scores in reading, writing and maths. NSW Education Minister Prue Car said teenagers spend as much as seven hours a day on screens.
'An entire generation of students are increasingly living in an online world,' Car said. She said the government has a duty to protect students' health and learning.
Other states are moving the same way. Victoria plans to cut classroom screen time from 2027, so the change is becoming national.
If you go to school in NSW, your lessons will change. The plan is to rebuild reading and writing skills that pen and paper are thought to teach best.