NSW public primary schools are banning compulsory laptops from 2027 and making a return to ‘pens and paper’.

 

The 'back to basics' classroom move was announced by NSW Premier Chris Minns earlier this week who said: "Just because technology is available doesn't mean it has to replace what we know works, reading from books and writing. So we're getting back to basics - putting books back in kids' hands, pens on paper and making sure screens are only used when they actually help students learn."

 

The NSW government will scrap "bring your own device" (BYOD) mandates across all NSW public primary schools from 2027, moving to curb classroom digital distractions while "easing cost-of-living burdens on families".

 

Under the reform, parents enrolling children in public primary schools will no longer be pressured to buy costly laptops or tablets.

 

While public high schools will maintain voluntary BYOD programs, secondary principals have been instructed that personal devices cannot be made compulsory and that offline alternatives must be guaranteed.

 

In primary classrooms, any necessary digital work will rely exclusively on school-supplied hardware.