Singapore will ban secondary school students from using smartphones and smartwatches during recess and breaks from January 2026, forcing teenagers to lock away devices for the entire school day.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) announced that existing guidelines, which restrict usage during lessons, will be significantly tightened to cover all non-lesson time, including co-curricular activities and enrichment sessions.
“Screen use among students has been shown to displace important activities such as sleep, physical activity and social interactions with friends and family, and is linked to poorer holistic well-being,” the Ministry stated.
Exceptions where necessary
Under the new rules, devices must be kept in designated storage areas such as lockers or school bags throughout the day, though schools may grant exceptions where necessary.
The crackdown extends to smartwatches with messaging capabilities, though payment-only devices remain permitted.
In a simultaneous move to combat sleep deprivation, the government is remotely tightening the digital curfew on student laptops.
From January 2026, the default sleep setting on Personal Learning Devices (PLDs) will be brought forward to 10.30pm from the current 11.00pm.
“Our collective goal is to create a school environment that prioritises students’ learning and enhances their engagement, fostering healthier habits on screen use and better well-being for all students,” the Ministry stated.
