Tablets for Grade 8 and Beyond: A Shift in Digital Education - Opinions and Debates
Allowed tablet usage limited to Class 8; Mixed Reactions and Debate - Approval and Debate Surrounding Tablets Exclusively for Grade 8 Students
The state administration has decided to issue tablets to students from grade 8 onwards, a surprising change that has stirred differing opinions from professional organizations and experts.
The Bavarian Teachers' Association (bpv) and Augsburg educational expert Klaus Zierer voiced support for the policy adjustment made by Minister-President Markus Söder (CSU), while other associations worried about disarray in schools. Minister of Education Anna Stolz (Free Voters), who initiated this change according to Söder, stated: "The future of digital education in Bavarian schools will be more prudent."
Previously, CSU and Free Voters agreed and publicly announced that all students in secondary schools would eventually receive a tablet. The coalition agreement stated: "By 2028 at the latest, all students from grade 5 onwards will be equipped with digital devices." Following the cabinet decision in February 2024, it was declared: "Bavaria is raising the bar and taking the next significant stride toward the 'School of the Future' with digital classrooms, loan devices, and training." The gradual implementation had already begun, with a subsidy of 350 euros for personal tablets in certain classes, depending on the school.
Söder now endorses "traditional educational values"
After the cabin retreat at Tegernsee, Söder revealed that mobile devices would only be provided from grade 8 onwards, prioritizing reading, mathematics, and handwriting before that: "This means that classical educational ideals will remain in Bavaria," argued Söder. Stolz explained: "Digital education always needs a pedagogical added value and responsible use. And that means for me: the younger, the less. Especially in the early school years, acquiring analog skills is essential."
Education scholar calls for pausing digitalization
Zierer considered the decision to be long overdue but only a step in the right direction. He had long advocated for a halt to the "digitalization trend." Research results have highlighted for years that digital media are overused and introduced too early in schools.
Zierer now demands more: The equipping of all students with digital devices should be paused - a dialogue regarding the objectives of this measure is needed first. Many schools' feedback is not positive: "Many students report situations in classrooms where students play games during lessons, lose focus, and lack control over learning."
The Teachers' Association would have welcomed an earlier decision
BPV Chairperson Michael Schwägerl stated concerning Söder's announcement, given schools preparing for the following school year, they would have liked for this decision to be made earlier. Some European countries have already collected negative experiences with premature digitalization in schools. Therefore, the course correction is positive. "Children and young people in their development process must be at the center. And the careful, critical use of digital devices is contingent upon acquiring and practicing analog basic skills beforehand," he underscored.
BLLV Slams "About-Face into Chaos"
The Bavarian Teachers' Association (BLLV) accused Söder of causing "chaos." "First in and now out again, that's not possible," said BLLV President Simone Fleischmann. Schools had relied on the announcements of the government - many schools had constructed digital infrastructure, developed, and implemented pedagogical concepts, and based their future plans on these.
The Bavarian Association of Realschool Teachers blames the state government for instigating planning chaos and uncertainty at schools. While reducing the use of digital devices is sensible, implementing this with a heavy hand was impractical.
Now, after the abrupt digital rollback, there's a fuss at many schools. "Planning for the next school year is in full swing, media competence teams have been working diligently on coherent concepts for months, and numerous colleagues have already made preparations. It shouldn't be that they are abruptly pulled out of the game," it explained. It is evidently an opportunity to save money.
- The BPV Chairperson, Michael Schwägerl, expressed that the Bavarian Teachers' Association would have appreciated an earlier decision from the state administration regarding the provision of tablets to students, as it would have provided schools with more time to prepare for the upcoming school year.
- The Bavarian Association of Realschool Teachers criticized the state government for causing planning chaos and uncertainty at schools by abruptly changing their digital policy, suggesting that while reducing the use of digital devices is sensible, implementing this change with a heavy hand was impractical.
