Croatian Schools Face Mobile Phone Usage Ban

The news in Croatian

1. ministarstvo  (n.)
   državna ustanova koja upravlja određenim područjem društva ili gospodarstva ↩︎
2. željeti
   imati želju za nečim ili namjeru ostvariti nešto ↩︎
3. tijekom
   za vrijeme trajanja nečega ↩︎
4. svrha  (f.)
   krajnji cilj ili namjera nečega ↩︎
5. smanjiti
   učiniti nešto manjim ili manjeg opsega ↩︎
6. naglašavati
   istaknuti nešto posebno ili dati nečemu važnost ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: What does the Croatian Ministry of Education want to ban in primary schools?

Question 2: For what purposes can mobile phones still be used in schools?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
ministarstvo  (n.)	ministry
željeti	wish
tijekom	during
svrha  (f.)	purpose
smanjiti	reduce
naglašavati	emphasise

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The Croatian Ministry of Education has proposed changes to school regulations to expand the ban on mobile phone use in primary schools. The ban is set to apply not only during classes but also during breaks, with allowances for educational purposes and health needs, according to Ivana Pavić Šimetin, a special advisor to the Minister of Education. This announcement was made during a roundtable discussion titled “Are Mobile Phones and Social Media Stealing Our Children’s Childhood?” held in the Croatian Parliament.

Currently, schools are one of the few places where children are not permitted to use mobile phones during lessons. The proposed adjustment to the rules aims to extend this prohibition to cover breaks, aiming to further regulate mobile usage among students. This initiative has sparked debate on whether such regulation should be handled at a national level through legislation.

Marija Selak Raspudić, an independent MP, has introduced an amendment to the primary and secondary education law, which is scheduled for discussion in the Parliament. She argues that similar measures are already in place in other countries and emphasized that the European Parliament is also considering such regulations for social media use by younger individuals.

However, Šimetin asserts that while limitations on mobile use are necessary, they should be managed by school-specific guidelines rather than by law. The revised regulations, expected to be enacted within the next couple of months, not only address mobile phone use but also limit the number of times parents can excuse their children’s absences from school tuition-free.

Support for the initiative varies. Nataša Vibiral, headteacher of Bjelovar Commercial and Trade School, supports the initiative for primary schools but argues for controlled use in secondary schools rather than a complete ban. She pointed out practical issues such as students using phones for purchasing bus tickets or paying for meals.

Opponents also caution against dismissing the educational potential of technology. Antonio Jurčev, Secretary General of the Croatian Headmasters Association, emphasized the importance of promoting digital literacy and responsible use of technology as part of the educational experience.

The need for regulating technology use in schools receives further support from Ivana Portolan Pajić, who presented data indicating excessive phone use among students. Research highlighted that 40% of students spend more than three hours daily on social media during weekdays, with figures significantly higher during weekends.

This topic has drawn attention to the legal and societal aspects of youth digital consumption. Proposals such as those put forward by MP Ivana Kekin for a national law on digital protection of children emphasize safe use conditions and protection from digital harm, including access regulation to social networks and parental control under the age of 15.

These initiatives underscore the increasing concern among educators and lawmakers about the negative impacts of excessive screen time on children’s social interactions, academic performance, and mental health. The conversation continues on how best to prepare children for a digital world while protecting their right to a balanced childhood.

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