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Children's dependence on phones and tablets is generating real and growing problems in schools, according to Andalucía's regional president. Juanma Moreno made the comments on Thursday at the opening of the 2026-2027 school year at the Padre Manjón primary school in Benahadux, Almería, using the occasion to set out his concerns about the direction of education in Spain.

 

Moreno was direct about the technology question. While acknowledging that digital tools have a legitimate place in education, he warned that the "dependence" and "addiction" many children now have to screens is causing a series of problems in the classroom that need to be taken seriously. He called for wider reflection on the issue and practical action to address it.

 

He also pointed to the latest PISA 2025 report as a reason for concern. Andalusian students currently score more than ten points below the national average in Mathematics, reading comprehension and Science, a gap the regional government is trying to address partly through 700 dedicated support teachers in Language and Mathematics. Moreno argued, however, that throwing resources at the problem is not enough on its own. He cited Luxembourg and Switzerland as examples of high-spending countries that still underperformed in PISA. "Improvement cannot be achieved solely through resources," he said. "We also need to address methodology, school autonomy, and classroom management."

 

On the broader state of Spanish education policy, Moreno called for what he described as a great national agreement on education, acknowledging it might sound "utopian in today's world" but arguing it was necessary given that the state sets the basic legislative framework. His view of recent education laws was blunt: "They have not worked."

 

He also spoke about the importance of a culture of effort, warning against the tendency to lower expectations. "Leveling down is not exactly the best objective," he said, calling on families, the education system and institutions to share responsibility for improving outcomes.

 

It is a set of concerns, screen time, falling standards and fragmented education policy, that will resonate well beyond Andalucía.

 

Image: Junta de Andalucia