Contact Your Child During School Hours (2026 MOE Phone Ban)

Q: What does Contact Your Child During School Hours (2026 MOE Phone Ban) cover?
A: A practical contact plan for parents and students when phones are stored during school hours, plus a simple checklist you can reuse before term starts.

TL;DR
\- From January 2026, secondary school students cannot use phones during school hours; devices are stored, and exceptions are school-approved.
\- Agree on pick-up points, a backup adult, and a no-phone contingency plan before term starts.
\- Save the school office contact and know how your school handles urgent messages.

Status: MOE's enhanced screen-use press release remains the official source for the January 2026 secondary-school phone and smartwatch rules; the MOE page was last updated on 8 Jan 2026.

Quick contact map

• TL;DR: Do not rely on your child's phone during school hours.
• Contact plan checklist: Save the school route, pickup point, and backup adult.
• Urgent changes and templates: Use the school-approved channel and a short clear message.

1 The key rule that changes contact habits

MOE's January 2026 measures for secondary schools mean smartphones and smartwatches cannot be used during school hours (including recess, CCAs, and supplementary/enrichment/remedial lessons). Devices stay in lockers or school bags, and schools may allow use only by exception when necessary. That is why parents and students need a clear school-hours contact plan. MOE press release (30 Nov 2025)

2 Build a school-hours contact plan (quick checklist)

1. Confirm the school's process. Ask how urgent messages are passed to students and what counts as an exception.
2. Set pick-up locations and times. Decide where to meet on normal days and what changes on CCA days.