ZAGREB, 13 March (Hina) – Minister of Science, Education and Youth Radovan Fuchs on Friday welcomed results of the mobile phone ban in Croatian primary schools, saying peer violence and its effects on children’s development are among the main reasons for the restriction.
Fuchs said the ban is being implemented as planned, noting that around 80% of schools already restricted phone use before the rules were introduced. No major issues have been reported, he said, addingВ that excessive device use affects children’s physical and mental development.
He spoke after the presentation of research on “Use of digital technology and artificial intelligence and the well-being of children and young people in the 2024/2025 school year.”
During school hours, phones were banned, but pupils used them for 35-40 minutes during breaks, far below the three to six hours children typically spend on devices at home. Fuchs said parents play a key role in limiting use outside school.
The minister highlighted the link between phones and peer violence, noting that devices can be used for threats or recording incidents to distribute online, including fights. Most incidents occur outside school, but some happen on school grounds, justifying the ban.
On social media restrictions for under-15s, Fuchs said no country has yet fully resolved how to enforce such bans. Several EU countries are experimenting with different models, but results are pending. Enforcement raises technical and privacy challenges, so legislation before practical implementation would be premature.
On modular teaching, Fuchs confirmed no teachers’В workload has been reduced. Some timetables have changed due to vocational education reforms, but teachers may receive duties through cross-curricular subjects.
He noted that this year there were 2,000 fewer secondary school students than in previous years, with at least 1,000 fewer projected next year, reflecting Croatia’s demographic decline. He expressed hope that return migration could help reverse the trend.
Regarding communication with school unions, Fuchs said the last contact concerned the grading regulations, one of the causes of the strike. He added that the ministry set up a broad expert team to draft the regulations and remains willing to continue negotiations.
