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Secondary school students will no longer be allowed to use their phones in school starting next year
From January 2026, secondary school students will not be allowed to use smartphones and smartwatches outside of lesson time, such as during recess and co-curricular activities (CCAs), as part of tightened guidelines on screen use.
Currently, they are limited in their use of these devices only during regular lesson time.
The new tightened guidelines, which will also cover supplementary, enrichment and remedial lessons, align with the restrictions put in place for primary school pupils since January 2025.
The revised guidelines by the Ministry of Education (MOE) are part of a series of initiatives announced on Nov 30 to help children and their parents develop healthy digital habits.
MOE said in a statement that students’ devices will have to be kept in designated storage areas such as lockers or in their school bags during school hours.
Smartwatches fall under the guidelines as they enable communication through messaging and access to apps including social media, which can lead to distractions, passive screen use and reduced interaction with peers, it added.
“Where necessary, schools may allow students to use smartphones by exception,” the ministry said.
A ministry spokesman said some secondary schools had adopted these tighter guidelines after they were announced for primary schools, with positive outcomes. These included improved student well-being, enhanced focus, and more physical interaction during unstructured time such as breaks.
MOE said it also would bring forward the default time that personal learning devices are locked nightly to 10.30pm, from the current 11pm. This will kick in from January, meaning the devices will be on sleep mode nightly from 10.30pm to 6.30am.
“This can help students to manage device use before bedtime, and nudge them to sleep earlier,” it said.
Since 2021, secondary school students have had their own personal learning devices, which are school-sanctioned tablets or laptops – mostly iPads or Chromebooks.
Each personal learning device has a device management application installed on it, which allows schools to block access to undesirable internet content, such as pornography and gambling, and set screen time limits.
Outside of school hours, parents can opt for their child’s personal learning device to either keep to default management application settings, operate on modified settings, or disable the application entirely, which means the devices’ default screen time limits can be relaxed.
MOE said it strongly encouraged parents who had opted for less restrictive options to consider aligning with the 10.30pm shift.
Commenting on the revised guidelines, Minister of State for Education Jasmin Lau said in an Instagram post that while technology has become part of the education system and can be helpful in daily life, “we need to find a healthy balance and recognise that habits form early”.
The changes, she said, will support students in developing lifelong healthy digital habits.
She added that as a parent, she is concerned about the environment children grow up in.
“Even at pre-school age, my kids are already curious about screens and know how to swipe if given a screen,” she said.
Ms Lau said more details on the roll-out of the revised guidelines will be communicated through respective secondary schools.
The ministry spokesman added that this could be through start-of-year talks in schools, student handbooks, school websites and parent briefings.
Schools are given autonomy to formulate their discipline policies and school rules to align with MOE’s guidelines, to suit their student profile and the context, he said.
For misuse of smartphones and smartwatches, he added, schools typically work with students and engage parents to address the underlying issues and develop strategies to help students manage their use of these devices responsibly.
Responding to queries from The Straits Times, he said those in junior colleges or Millennia Institute are expected to have developed sufficient self-management skills and discipline to use personal smartphones and smartwatches responsibly in school.
However, to minimise distraction, the use of these devices during lessons should still be restricted, and explicit permission should be given by the teacher. Device use outside of lesson time may be allowed when needed.
MOE’s announcement follows an update to the Ministry of Health’ screen use guidelines in January, which included, for instance, not allowing children under 18 months any screen time, and limiting screen time for those aged seven to 12 to less than two hours a day outside of schoolwork.
In that month, the authorities launched Grow Well SG, a national health promotion strategy aimed at helping children eat, sleep, learn, exercise and bond well.
A government survey published in September found that for teens aged 13 to 17, about a quarter of them spent more than four hours daily on digital devices during weekdays, with the number rising to nearly half on weekends.
At the National Day Rally in August, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the Government will do more to support parents and make online spaces safer for children, and encouraged parents not to use phones as a babysitter.
To that end, the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) and Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) announced two initiatives under Grow Well SG on Nov 30 – a series of digital parenting programmes, and a new children’s book on digital wellness.
The ministries said a range of digital parenting programmes will be rolled out from now until 2026, in collaboration with community partners, who will conduct the workshops in various modalities such as workshops and webinars.
These partners include Look Up Family, a digital wellness community that aims to help families manage digital life, TOUCH Community Services and YouthTechSG, a charitable movement dedicated to empowering young people in technology.
The ministries said the programmes will first be offered in areas with a higher proportion of young families, before they are expanded elsewhere.
Spokespersons for MDDI and MSF said workshops and talks are designed to support families with children and youth aged 0 to 18, with different programmes catered to families with children of different age ranges.
They added that more information on the programmes, including sign-up details, will be disseminated through local community networks.
On Nov 30, Look Up Family ran a pilot workshop in Bukit Batok, where parents shared about their digital parenting challenges and tips.
Separately, a new book called Timmy & Tammy: Guide To Digital Wellness was launched at the Bedok Public Library, by the Families for Life Council.
The book, targeted at children aged three to eight, features local characters and guides children on navigating online content safely, making responsible choices, and balancing digital and non-screen activities. It will be distributed to families under the ComLink+ scheme through social service offices.
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The Kano State Government has announced that the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, will lead this year’s Eid-el-Fitr Durbar, even as it unveiled strict guidelines to prevent a breakdown of law and order during the celebrations.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
The government said the decision, approved by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, followed credible intelligence reports indicating attempts by some individuals to create unrest during the Sallah period.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, the government said it remained committed to preserving Kano’s cultural heritage but would prioritise peace and security.
According to the statement, Hawan Idi (Eid Durbar) will be conducted by Emir Sanusi from the Kofar Mata Eid Ground through designated routes to Gidan Shettima, terminating at Kofar Fatalwa of the emir’s palace.
It added that Hawan Nasarawa would be held in a modified form without horseback displays, while Hawan Daushe, Hawan Fanisau and Hawan Dorayi have been suspended for the time being in the interest of public safety.
The government said all security agencies had been directed to intensify surveillance and ensure strict compliance with the directives before, during and after the festive period.
It urged residents to remain calm, law-abiding and cooperative with security agencies, while cautioning against the spread of unverified information.
The government further assured the public of its commitment to a peaceful and hitch-free Sallah celebration, wishing Muslims in the state a joyous Eid-el-Fitr.
The Durbar, a centuries-old cultural procession, has been thrown into uncertainty following conflicting statements from government officials on whether it will hold this year, given the unresolved legal battle between Sanusi II and Aminu Ado Bayero.
While Governor Yusuf reinstated Sanusi II in 2024, Bayero continues to contest his dethronement in court, leaving the emirship in dispute.
The government recently hinted that the stool controversy would soon be resolved.
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Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has dismissed comments by human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, over what he described as transactional politics and activism.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
PUNCH Online reports that Sowore’s comment followed a viral video in which the activist criticised what he described as “transactional politics” among some regional agitators and influencers, accusing them of aligning with political actors for personal or material benefit.
In the video, Sowore appeared to reference Igboho, suggesting that his recent political positions, including support for President Bola Tinubu’s potential re-election bid, reflected what he termed “amala politics” — a colloquial expression often used to imply opportunistic or interest-driven engagement rather than principled activism.
Igboho, in a statement issued by his media aide, Olayomi Koiki, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Tuesday, criticised Sowore for allegedly describing his activism as “amala politics” in a recent viral video circulating on social media.
He described the comment as an inconsequential rant that should be ignored by the public.
Igboho argued that his agitation for improved security in the South-West and his support for the second-term bid of President Bola Tinubu in 2027 were constitutional rights aimed at promoting the collective interests of the Yoruba people and the development of Nigeria.
He said, “We strongly reject the characterisation of Igboho’s activism as transactional. Such a myopic position misrepresents the intent and focus of our agitation on effective grassroots security in the South-West and Nigeria as a whole.
“How many protests did Sowore organise to push for my freedom? Sowore’s claim of fighting for the masses contradicts his alleged daily lodging expenses of N450,000 at a popular Lagos hotel.
“I cannot be compelled to endorse political figures such as Peter Obi or Atiku Abubakar, or even align with Sowore’s political platform. I have the right to make independent political decisions based on the security and collective interests of the Yoruba people.”
He added that Igboho’s advocacy prioritises addressing insecurity across Yorubaland, including killings of farmers, kidnappings along highways and attacks on traditional rulers and royal institutions.
Koiki, however, clarified that these concerns form the basis of Igboho’s movement rather than any ambition for political office or revolutionary leadership.
The statement added, “While Sowore has consistently promoted nationwide revolution as a pathway to leadership, Igboho’s approach is rooted in protecting lives, land and property within Yoruba territory. This agitation is a response to real and ongoing threats faced by communities in the region.
“Latest security incidents in northern Nigeria, including reported explosions in Maiduguri on March 16, 2026, also raise questions about the broader effectiveness of long-term revolutionary advocacy.
“We challenge Sowore to assess the situation in his home state of Ondo State, considering the growing cases of banditry, kidnapping and attacks on rural communities.”
The statement added that the impact of insecurity on vulnerable groups, including farmers, traditional rulers, women and children, had been severe, with several communities reportedly affected.
“These realities reinforce Igboho’s long-standing call since 2020 for localised security measures and stronger regional protection strategies.
“Labelling our agitation and efforts as ‘amala politics’ undermines the urgency of the security crisis and the legitimacy of grassroots agitation,” the statement concluded
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The continuous detention of the former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has sparked reactions from politicians and socio-political activists.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
DAILY POST reports that the former governor has been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, over an ongoing investigation into alleged financial impropriety when he was governor.
El-Rufai had earlier spent two nights in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before he was picked up by the Department of State Services and then later handed over to the ICPC.
His continuous detention has sparked outrage among citizens who are calling on the commission to immediately charge the former governor to court.
Popular socio-political activist, Aisha Yesufu, said in a post on X that “holding a citizen indefinitely without trial” is impossible.
According to her, “that is not justice. That is not accountability. That begins to look like persecution.
“Every Nigerian, no matter how powerful or unpopular, has the right to a fair hearing. That right is not a favour from the government. It is a constitutional guarantee. If El-Rufai committed crimes, then prosecute him. Nigerians will support that. But what we must never
Support is a system where the government can detain anyone endlessly, simply because it can.
“Today, it may be El-Rufai. Tomorrow, it could be anyone else who speaks or acts in a way that those in power do not like. A democracy must be better than that.
“So the message is simple: charge him in court or release him. Let justice be done openly, lawfully, and transparently. That is the only way a nation that claims to respect the rule of law should act”.
Similarly, an activist lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, in an interview he posted on X on Wednesday, demanded that the former governor be charged to court immediately, condemning El-Rufai’s incarceration.
“No matter the allegations, I think he should be charged in a court of competent jurisdiction so that he can face the music.
“All these things currently going on don’t look tidy to me”, he said.
On his part, Paul Ibe, a media aide to the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, lambasted ICPC for not charging the former governor to court.
In a statement on his X handle, Ibe accused the Commission of taking sides with the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
He wrote, “The matter of the former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai @elrufai has proven beyond measure that the ‘I’ in ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission) @icpcnigeria represents Illegal or Irresponsible.
“There’s nothing Independent about the Commission. They’re no different from all the other institutions of state that are standing on Tinubu’s mandate. The ICPC is nauseatingly pliable and has disgracefully made itself available in coercing members of the opposition into the ruling party”!
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