Classroom stationary is seen at Toorak College in Melbourne, Australia on Jan. 31, 2022. AAP Image/Con Chronis
A state government is forging ahead with its pen-and-paper revolution as it winds back a key digital learning policy.
The NSW government will no longer require public primary school students to bring their own devices to school, leaders announced on Sunday.
Premier Chris Minns said children were “spending too much time staring at screens both inside and outside class.”
“These changes mean they’ll be spending more time reading books, writing and learning the basics and parents won’t have to shell out for expensive devices,” he said.
The state previously announced new screen-use guidelines for public schools that will become mandatory by 2028.
They include as little as 15 minutes of screen time per day for students in year 2 and below.
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State and territory education ministers, led by NSW, on Monday also agreed to revert year 5 NAPLAN writing tests to pen and paper due to concerns about children’s literacy skills.
They also broadly agreed to further remove technology from classrooms, including possible restrictions on the use of artificial intelligence in primary schools and high school assessments.
Nationwide screen-time limits in classrooms will also be considered.
Australian students are twice as likely as their counterparts in peer nations to spend more than two hours per day learning on digital devices.
Ministers also agreed to consolidate four national education agencies in a new organisation, the Australian Teaching and Learning Commission.
The commission combines the body behind the curriculum and NAPLAN, the teaching and leadership institute, education research organisation, and the digital resources service.
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said on Sunday a “digital detox” for classrooms was in order.
“I’m not making the argument here that we should burn iPads … kids need to learn digital skills, but it shouldn’t be on every desk for every minute,” he told News24.
He also supported restrictions on AI in primary schools, likening it to passing a calculator to a kindergartener.
“It’s pretty good for productivity, not good for learning,” he said, pointing to a Chinese study indicating the benefits of ditching AI in high school.
Authorities were pushed to act when some standardised 2026 exam results revealed surprise declines in literacy.
August’s writing scores were a particular concern in years 3 and 5, although numeracy results had improved for most cohorts since 2025.
NAPLAN tests are conducted annually for students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9.
The tests were fully digitised by 2022, except for year 3 writing exams and for students with special needs.
By Max Aldred
