Live: Education ministers consider screen time and generative AI limits in schools

Education ministers have agreed to consider imposing screen time limits and restrictions on kids using generative AI at schools across the country.Follow all the updates in our live blog. Thu 5 Nov 2026 at 7:01amThu 5 Nov 2026 at 7:01amEducation ministers agree to look at school screen time limitsScreen-time limits and limits on kids using generative AI will be considered at schools across the country as part of a push to improve education outcomes.The move follows international testing which, earlier this year, revealed Australian students' reading and maths have been going backwards over the past 20 years.The same tests, by the Programme for International Student Assessment, found Australian school kids spend more time using devices than kids in other OECD countries.At a meeting of the nation's education ministers earlier this week, they agreed to set, or at least consider, screen-time limits.Under the plan a digital detox taskforce will be established to lead the charge on cutting down on the use of devices in schools."We're announcing the next stage of reforms to help our kids learn and to support our teachers," Federal Education Minister Jason Clare says.The education ministers also agreed to change the maths curriculum for primary school students and improve the way kids learn about antisemitism."Schools don't just teach numeracy, literacy and critical thinking skills. They also build character," Clare says.Thu 5 Nov 2026 at 6:54amThu 5 Nov 2026 at 6:54amGood morning 👋Hello and welcome to our federal politics live blog! It's great to have you join us here this Thursday morning.I'm Josh Boscaini, joining you live from Parliament House in Canberra, here and ready to bring you all of today's federal politics news.There might be a lot happening in US politics, but things are still ticking along here in Australian politics too!Education ministers have agreed to consider imposing screen-time limits and limits on kids using generative AI at schools across the country.Let's get right into this and see where it leads us!