Zurich School Cracks Down on Students' Alleged Obsession with Mobile Devices

Zurich School Cracks Down on Students' Alleged Obsession with Mobile Devices

Swiss School Adopts Stricter Mobile Device Policy

In line with a national trend, the Realgymnasium Rämibühl in Zurich has announced a new mobile device policy. The policy, effective after the summer holidays, prohibits students in lower classes from using their phones for gaming or chatting.

Tobias Weber, the principal of the middle school, made the announcement. The new rule extends the existing restrictions, aiming to create a more focused learning environment.

This move follows a broader trend in Switzerland, where concerns about student distraction, social interaction, and the potential negative effects of excessive screen time have led to stricter mobile device policies in educational settings. For instance, the canton of Geneva has announced a ban on the use of personal digital devices during classroom activities starting from September 2025, while Valais has already implemented a ban on smartphones during all school hours.

Similarly, Transylvania County Schools in the United States has updated its policy on wireless communication devices to support a more focused learning environment. However, the new rule at the Realgymnasium Rämibühl is more stringent, as it does not allow any non-educational use of mobile devices for students in lower classes.

It's important to note that this new policy does not apply to students beyond compulsory schooling at the Realgymnasium Rämibühl.

The news about the Realgymnasium Rämibühl's new mobile device policy was reported by "Inside Paradeplatz." The school has not specified any exceptions for educational purposes, meaning that mobile devices can only be used for learning-related activities.

Despite the stricter policy, students in lower classes at the Realgymnasium Rämibühl can still use their mobile devices, but only for educational purposes. The ban on non-educational use, including gaming and chatting, will apply to students in the first three classes of the long-term gymnasium after the summer holidays.

[1] Source [2] Source

1. To foster a more focused environment for education and self-development, the Realgymnasium Rämibühl in Zurich has implemented a new policy prohibiting non-educational use of mobile devices for students in lower classes, such as gaming or chatting.
2. In line with the new policy, students in the first three classes of the long-term gymnasium at the Realgymnasium Rämibühl can still apply their mobile devices, but only for learning-related activities during the school hours.

Read also: