NSW public primary schools will no longer be able to make families buy a laptop or tablet for class. The NSW Government announced on Sunday, 8 November that bring your own device (BYOD) requirements will end in public primary schools from 2027, which matters now for any parent looking at a device for a child’s school year.
What changes from 2027
The release says parents with children at public primary schools in 2027 “will not be required to buy expensive laptops or tablets because of a school BYOD policy”. The government lists three arrangements for public schools from 2027:
- No primary school will require students to bring their own device through a BYOD program.
- Secondary schools will be reminded that BYOD programs are voluntary, with off-screen learning options provided.
- BYOD use will be monitored and evaluated throughout 2027 to inform future policy.
Devices are not being banned from primary classrooms. The government says students “will use school-supplied technology where it provides educational value”. The release does not say how those school devices will be funded or what happens to laptops families have already bought, so it is worth asking your school about its plans for next year.
Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car said in the release that there is “no need for parents to fork out over a thousand dollars on an expensive laptop or tablet for their child this Christmas because of a BYOD requirement at their public school”.
High school stays voluntary
For public high schools nothing is banned, but the government says schools will be reminded that students cannot be required to bring their own devices and that alternatives must be available. If your teenager’s school runs a BYOD program, a school-provided option or off-screen work should be on offer.
The screen time limits behind it
The change sits alongside the Department of Education’s screen time guidelines, which are recommended from Term 1, 2027 and must be in place in all public schools by Term 1, 2028. The maximum times on individual devices such as laptops and tablets, averaged over a week, are:
| Year level | Maximum individual device use |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten to Year 2 | Up to 15 minutes a day |
| Years 3 and 4 | Up to 30 minutes a day |
| Years 5 and 6 | Up to 45 minutes a day |
| Years 7 to 10 | Up to 25% of lesson time per subject |
| Years 11 and 12 | Up to 50% of lesson time per subject |
The department lists exemptions, including reasonable adjustments for students with specific learning needs, translation devices, distance education and online testing. It also recommends at least an hour a day of learning with pen and paper. On homework, the government says there will be no screen-based homework before Year 5.
What it means if you are buying a device
If the only reason for a new laptop or tablet was a primary school BYOD list, you may not need it for 2027. A family computer for homework from Year 5 is a different decision. If you do buy, our guides on how much RAM a laptop needs and console and device parental controls cover the basics.
