Thousands of Australian parents and teachers are calling for reduced digital device use in schools amid concerns over declining literacy and numeracy outcomes. The campaign, led by the Heads Up Alliance—a group of parents and educators—urges a move to remove tablets and laptops from primary school classrooms and limit their use in secondary schools.
The push follows the release of the latest National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) results, which showed a drop in writing scores for students in years 3, 7, and 9 compared with 2025. Notably, year 3 students recorded their poorest writing and numeracy results since 2023, prompting education ministers to request the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) to explore reinstating pen-and-paper testing for years 5, 7, and 9. Schools in some states, including Queensland and South Australia, are also evaluating how to adjust screen use policies based on these results.
The Victorian government plans to introduce screen-time limits in state-run primary schools starting in 2027. Students from prep to year 2 will have minimal device usage, and children in years 3 to 6 will face a daily cap of 90 minutes on screen time. Educators such as Victorian teacher Stephanie Challis have described these measures as a preliminary step and expressed a desire for more comprehensive restrictions, citing concerns that extensive device use is hindering learning and classroom management.
Teachers and parents supporting the digital detox initiative argue that excessive screen time may adversely affect children’s cognitive development and academic performance. NSW high school teacher Debra Monte noted that students often turn immediately to their devices for quick answers, which she believes contributes to declining writing skills. Heads Up Alliance founder Dany Elachi emphasized concerns about children spending "hours and hours" daily on screens and the need to recalibrate the balance between digital and traditional learning methods.
At the same time, education officials acknowledge the complexity of the issue. Australian national health guidelines recommend no sedentary screen time for children under two and limit screen use to one hour or less daily for children aged three to five, while older children are advised to have no more than two hours of recreational screen time outside schoolwork. However, Australian Bureau of Statistics data indicates that fewer than 30 percent of children aged five to 17 meet these recommendations consistently.
Some education ministers and state officials have underscored the importance of considering these guidelines alongside practical classroom needs. Australia's Education Minister Jason Clare remarked on the potential impact of increased digital communication on students’ writing abilities and indicated ongoing dialogue with states about managing screen use in schools. Meanwhile, South Australia’s government balances restrictions on mobile phone use with programs offering screen-free activities before and after school.
As debates continue, the nationwide discussions reflect broader concerns over how digital devices affect student learning and well-being, with many stakeholders advocating for a more measured and evidence-based approach to technology in education.