SINGAPORE: When his younger daughter began showing signs of smartphone addiction, Mr Aylwin Lam, 48, spent months attempting to wean her off her device.

It was not easy – the Primary 5 student would sometimes fly into a rage when asked to put her phone away. Her school had already raised concerns to Mr Lam about her experiencing issues with her classmates and displaying other behavioural problems.

But with persistent effort from Mr Lam and his wife, their daughter gradually reduced her smartphone usage, cutting her daily YouTube sessions from two to three hours down to just 15 minutes.

“It was quite scary because you don’t realise it until it’s too late … Since I personally experienced it, I hope that all parents should really ban handphone usage for their kids,” said Mr Lam, who also has a daughter in Secondary 1.

Mr Lam's experience underlines why many parents are welcoming the Ministry of Education's (MOE) latest move on Nov 30 to further restrict smartphone and smartwatch use in schools.

From Jan 2026, secondary school students will not be allowed to use such devices during school hours, including non-lesson time such as recess, co-curricular activities, as well as supplementary, enrichment or remedial lessons. Devices must be kept in designated storage areas or in students' school bags.

The same guidelines already apply to primary schools as they were rolled out at the start of 2025 to cultivate healthier screen use habits.

Parents and teachers CNA spoke to largely supported extending these rules to secondary schools, with some saying the move was long overdue. But many questioned whether schools would be able to enforce the guidelines consistently.

STUDENTS WILL FIND WAYS AROUND THE RULES

For instance, Mr Lam noted that the guidelines allow students to keep their phones in their bags, but he disagrees with this approach. 

"Schools should have students put their phones in a locker, which is a better way to guarantee that they will not be able to use their phones during breaks," said Mr Lam. 

Even then, he added, students "can find all sorts of ways to get around the rules".

Mr Kelvin Choo, who has five sons aged 11 to 19, shared similar concerns.

The 60-year-old has noticed that his sons have ready access to their phones during school hours – they often reply instantaneously when he sends them me...