Bring Your Own Device Requirements End For Public Primary Schools
On Sunday 8 November, the Minns Labor Government announced it will end bring your own device (BYOD) requirements in NSW public primary schools from 2027 to help improve educational outcomes and limit excessive screen use among young children.
The decision means parents with children attending public primary schools in 2027 will not be required to buy expensive laptops or tablets because of a school BYOD policy.
The Government will also provide books to children attending Kindergarten orientation at NSW public schools from 2027, encouraging a love of reading before they even start school.
At public high schools, participation in BYOD programs will remain voluntary, with schools reminded that students cannot be required to bring their own devices and that alternatives must be available.
Stephen Lawrence MLC said: “From 2027, families with children at public primary schools across Barwon, Bathurst, Cootamundra, Dubbo and Orange will no longer be required to buy a laptop or tablet for a BYOD program. That makes a real difference to regional family budgets, and it puts books, pens and paper back at the centre of learning in the early years.”
The changes come as research continues to raise concerns about excessive screen use and its impact on student learning. A recent Macquarie University report found that screens can be a major source of distraction for students, with 84% of high school students and 57% of primary school students reporting they were distracted when using screens in class.
This change aligns with the NSW Government’s new screen use guidelines, which will see public schools place limits on the amount of time students spend learning on individual devices. The limits will be recommended from Day 1, Term 1, 2027 and mandatory from 2028.
This also builds on the changes made by the Minns Labor Government to return to supervised assessments using pen and paper, which reduce students’ opportunity and incentive to rely on detrimental AI inside classrooms, and at home. The new screen use guidelines recognise that students benefit from limits to digital device use. Technology should only be used where it supports learning, rather than being the default, including for homework.