Australia weighs screen time curbs and AI restrictions in schools

Australia is considering tighter controls on screen time and artificial intelligence (AI) in schools, with Federal Education Minister Jason Clare calling for a shift towards traditional learning methods as education ministers prepare for major policy discussions next week.

Clare said excessive screen use in classrooms could be undermining students’ mental health and academic performance, arguing that schools need to strike a better balance between digital technology and fundamental learning skills. The minister recently said students should spend less time on screens and return to more pen-and-paper activities. “I’m not saying that we should burn the iPads, but I reckon most parents would agree with me that we need a little less screen time and a bit more pen and paper in our schools,” he said.

Clare pointed to growing evidence that students were spending considerable time on digital devices for activities unrelated to learning, such as gaming, watching videos and messaging friends. He cited a recent study indicating that many students were using classroom screens for entertainment and social communication rather than educational purposes. “There’s mounting evidence here that if we dial it back a bit, then it’s going to be good in terms of not just mental health but also the results we see at school,” he said.

Australian students reportedly spend an average of two and a half hours a day on screens, nearly an hour more than their international counterparts, adding to concerns over the impact of prolonged digital exposure on learning.

Age-based screen restrictions under consideration

Screen time limits are expected to feature prominently at next week’s meeting of education ministers, with Clare suggesting that restrictions should reflect students’ ages and learning needs.

He cited measures introduced in New York and Los Angeles, where screen use has been restricted for younger children and limited for older students. “In New York and in L.A., they’ve just said no screens for little kids in kindergarten or prep, but they’re limiting it to about half an hour for kids in the later years of primary school and limiting it to about an hour or two at high school,” he said.

Several Australian states are already considering similar measures. New South Wales and Victoria have flagged screen time restrictions for next year, while Western Australia plans to trial limits in selected schools. The discussions will also cover possible changes to the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), particularly its writing component.

One proposal is to restore pen-and-paper writing tests for primary school students instead of requiring them to complete the assessment using keyboards.

AI use in schools faces closer scrutiny

The growing use of artificial intelligence in education is another major concern expected to feature in the discussions. Clare questioned whether students should be allowed to rely on AI tools before developing essential skills such as independent thinking, counting and writing.

Drawing a comparison with the introduction of calculators, he said children needed to master basic concepts before using technology to perform tasks more quickly. “You’ve got to learn how to count before you’re given a tool to do it at speed. You’ve got to build those mental muscles,” he said.

Clare said some jurisdictions and countries were considering restrictions on AI use in primary schools, including limits on its role in completing homework. He also referred to a study involving around 26,000 high school students in China, which he said found that access to AI improved homework results by 18%, but reduced examination performance by 20%.

The findings, as cited by Clare, suggested that while AI could help students complete assignments, it might also reduce the amount of learning they retain independently. “It helped them to do their homework. But when the books are closed, they hadn’t learnt as much,” he said.

Balancing technology with essential learning

The proposed discussions reflect a wider debate over the growing role of digital technology in education and the need to ensure that students do not become overly dependent on electronic tools. For Australian education authorities, the challenge will be to retain the benefits of digital learning while ensuring children develop the ability to read, write, calculate and think independently.

The outcome of next week’s ministerial discussions could help shape how schools regulate screen exposure and AI use, particularly in the early years of education.