National has confirmed its plans to ban cell phone use at all schools to help fix the declining rate of achievement in New Zealand if elected in October.
Party leader Christopher Luxon made the announcement on Wednesday morning, saying many schools overseas have implemented a similar ban and seen positive results from the initiative.
If elected, National said the ban would apply to all schools - primary, intermediate and secondary - and the presumption is cell phones are off and away all day, including during breaks between classes. However, schools can decide how to practically enforce the ban.
It comes as New Zealand's OECD rankings in maths, science and reading are in decline.
"To turn around falling achievement, students need to focus on their schoolwork during their precious classroom time," Luxon said.
"That means doing what we can to eliminate unnecessary disturbances and distractions."
Luxon said more than half of year 8 students are behind expectations in maths, science and writing, according to the National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement.
Without a world-class education system, New Zealand's future prosperity is threatened, according to Luxon - saying he wants teachers to be able to get on with their job with students fully focused.
"National has already announced its plan to focus schools on the basics, including a minimum of one hour each of reading, writing, and maths every day," Luxon said.
"Students only have one shot at their school years and we want to help them make the most of their valuable class time.
"Many schools and parents are concerned about the use of devices and research indicates there are health and social benefits to reducing screen time and encouraging students to interact with each other during their breaks."
Luxon said while schools will be able to decide exactly how they enforce the ban, he suggested it could mean requiring students to hand in their phones before school or leave them in their lockers or bags.
"Parents can contact students via the school office and exceptions for students with health conditions or special circumstances will be permitted.
"Education should be the great enabler that means every New Zealand child can pursue their aspirations regardless of where they start in life.
"However, when half of year 10 students cannot meet basic reading and writing benchmarks needed to succeed in further learning, work and life, we are failing to set every child up to succeed."
