Grade 6 students banned from bringing laptops to school from Monday

Schools across the UAE are implementing a new "Guide to Reducing the Use of Digital Tools in Learning" for Grade 6 students starting Monday. Under the policy, students will not be permitted to bring laptops and other digital devices to school, and VPN applications and private virtual platforms will be restricted on school premises. Schools will emphasize textbooks, notebooks, handwriting, classroom discussion and direct teacher interaction instead. The laptop ban applies only to Grade 6 students in both general and advanced tracks and does not extend to other grades. Laptop use at home will be regulated according to individual subject requirements and limited to situations where students need to access educational platforms or complete specific assignments. Schools clarified the measures do not represent a complete ban on technology, but rather shift from unrestricted daily use at school to targeted use at home. The approach aims to strengthen students' relationship with books and reduce indiscriminate screen use. Parents are expected to supervise device use at home, set appropriate time limits and ensure use is linked to actual school assignments. Private schools have also decided to prohibit VPN applications on school premises and restrict access to private virtual platforms unless explicitly authorized for educational purposes.