NSW public primary schools will no longer be able to require students to bring their own laptops or tablets from 2027, as the state moves to reduce classroom screen use and increase offline learning.
Under the new policy, parents of primary school students will not be required to purchase a personal device because of a school Bring Your Own Device, or BYOD, program.
Where technology is considered necessary for learning, students will instead be able to use school-supplied devices.
High School BYOD to Remain Voluntary
BYOD arrangements will continue in NSW public secondary schools, but participation must remain voluntary.
Schools will be reminded that students cannot be required to provide their own device and that an alternative must be available for families who choose not to participate.
The Department of Education will monitor BYOD use throughout 2027 as schools introduce broader limits on individual device use.
New Screen-Time Limits From 2027
The BYOD change forms part of new screen-use guidelines for NSW public schools.
The recommended maximum individual device use will be:
- Kindergarten to Year 2: up to 15 minutes a day
- Years 3–4: up to 30 minutes a day
- Years 5–6: up to 45 minutes a day
- Years 7–10: up to 25% of lesson time per subject
- Years 11–12: up to 50% of lesson time per subject.
The limits will be considered as averages across a week rather than strict limits for every individual lesson.
Schools are encouraged to implement the guidelines from Term 1, 2027, with compliance becoming mandatory from Term 1, 2028.
Exemptions will apply where devices are required for disability adjustments, translation, distance education, online testing or subjects with substantial technology requirements, such as software engineering.
Less Screen-Based Homework
The guidelines also recommend that homework requiring a digital device should generally not be assigned from Kindergarten to Year 4.
From Year 5 onwards, screen-based homework should only be used where teachers consider it more effective for learning than an offline alternative.
Schools will also be encouraged to provide at least one hour of learning using pen and paper each day.
Digital literacy will remain part of the curriculum, with the policy focused on reducing device use where technology does not provide a clear educational benefit.
Research Highlights Classroom Distraction
The changes follow NSW-funded research into screen use and student learning.
The government cited findings that 84% of high school students and 57% of primary school students surveyed reported being distracted while using screens in class.
Separate OECD data show Australian students spend more time using digital devices for learning at school than the OECD average. In the latest PISA results, Australian students reported an average 2.6 hours per school day using digital devices for learning, compared with an OECD average of 1.7 hours.
OECD data also show classroom digital distraction is relatively common in Australia, although the relationship between device use and academic performance varies depending on how and why technology is used.
Books for Kindergarten Students
From 2027, children attending Kindergarten orientation at NSW public schools will also receive books as part of the government’s effort to encourage reading before students begin school.
The Department of Education says the broader policy is not intended to remove technology from classrooms, but to make screen use more selective and ensure offline learning remains a substantial part of the school day.
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