Finnish students to return to mobile-free classrooms

Helsinki: New laws curbing the use of mobile phones in Finnish schools came into force on Friday ahead of their reopening after the summer holidays....

Helsinki: New laws curbing the use of mobile phones in Finnish schools came into force on Friday ahead of their reopening after the summer holidays.

The Nordic country, long known for its high-quality education, has seen its rating fall in an OECD ranking that measures the competence of 15-year-olds in mathematics, literacy and natural sciences.

An amendment to the Basic Education Act, which bans the use of mobile phones by students aged from seven to 16 while classes are on, was passed in April.

Now phones and other mobile devices can only be used in class with the teacher's permission for learning purposes, as an aid or for health reasons.

Finnish public broadcaster Yle reported that a school in the eastern town of Varkaus will require its estimated 700-odd pupils to keep their phones in their bags or in lockers throughout the day, including recess.