East Java Provincial Government Begins Implementing Gadget Restrictions in Schools

The use of gadgets needs to be regulated to ensure that the learning process runs safely, healthily, and is oriented towards strengthening the character of students. Surabaya (ANTARA) - The East Java Provincial Government (Pemprov Jatim) has begun implementing restrictions on gadget use for high school (SMA), vocational high school (SMK), and special needs school (SLB) students and teachers, effective from 13 April 2026, to maintain learning that is safer, healthier, and more character-focused. “The use of gadgets needs to be regulated to ensure that the learning process runs safely, healthily, and is oriented towards strengthening the character of students,” said East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa in Surabaya on Tuesday. According to Khofifah, uncontrolled gadget use has the potential to cause negative impacts, such as exposure to inappropriate content, online bullying (cyberbullying), digital dependency, and a decline in critical thinking abilities. This policy is a follow-up to the Joint Ministerial Decree (SKB) of seven ministers, namely the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Mendiktisaintek), the Minister of Communication and Digital (Menkomdigi), the Minister of Population and Family Development (Mendukbangga), and the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA). Additionally, the policy refers to Minister of Communication and Digital Regulation Number 9 of 2026 on the implementation of Government Regulation (PP) Number 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic System Operators in Child Protection (PP Tunas). In its implementation, students’ use of gadgets in school is only permitted for planned educational purposes and under teacher supervision. Students are still allowed to bring mobile phones as a means of communication with parents or guardians. “This is a follow-up to the joint decision of several ministers that the use of gadgets in learning has the potential to support the effectiveness and innovation of learning,” said Governor Khofifah. The policy aims to increase learning concentration and encourage direct social interactions among students, including light physical activities and healthy communication to maintain a balance between digital and non-digital activities. Meanwhile, the Head of the East Java Education Office (Disdik) Aries Agung Paewai stated that the gadget restriction implementation has been trialled in several schools, one of which is SMA Negeri 1 Turen in Malang Regency. His office will conduct periodic supervision and evaluation of the gadget use restriction policy in educational units.