BYOD @ ENPS
Changes to Digital Device use in Primary Schools: A Victorian Government Announcement on Thursday 16th October
Yesterday, the Victorian Government shared the following information with schools regarding digital device use in primary schools.
From 2027 schools:
will no longer invite families to purchase or bring their own digital devices to use at school for Prep to Year 6
will follow new recommended digital device times, including minimal device time for Prep to Year 2; and a maximum of 90 minutes per day for Years 3 to 6.
These changes are intended to support families by reducing cost-of-living pressures. They will also support students by reducing screen-time which can reduce the risk of eye strain, sedentary behaviour, and reduced peer interaction. These reforms complement Victoria’s nation-leading mobile phone restrictions, ensuring an integrated approach to addressing digital distraction and the inappropriate use of technology.
What this means for our school
Our school will support the upcoming changes from 2027, and as part of this transition, we will use the information from our recent review of the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program and our digital technologies implementation to inform and strengthen our Digital Learning Strategy moving forward in 2026.
We acknowledge that the short notice of these changes will have an impact on some classroom practices that currently support accessible, engaging, and targeted learning experiences. As a staff, we are committed to working collaboratively to understand the implications of this decision in greater detail and to develop a plan that ensures we continue delivering high-quality teaching and learning.
In preparation, our school will need to purchase additional banks of devices to ensure students have adequate access to essential online assessment platforms (including NAPLAN) and learning tools. This will have both short and long term budget implications. For example, under the new system, platforms such as Google Classroom may be more challenging to use effectively, as banks of devices will need to be timetabled and may not be readily available when required.
As a result, we will be ceasing our current BYOD program for Year 3 in 2026, and we are currently reviewing the impact on the Years 4–6 BYOD program. The BYOD program for Years 4, 5, and 6 will continue throughout 2026, and then cease from 2027, in line with the new requirements. From that point, the school will provide alternate devices for student use during the school day.
Please note: Students with disabilities who use a digital device as a reasonable adjustment are exempt from these changes.
We appreciate your understanding and continued support as we navigate this transition and remain focused on ensuring the best outcomes for all our students.
You can read more about the changes on the department’s website: Digital Learning: Policy.