Parliamentary Committee Approves Nationwide Ban on Mobile Phones in Primary Schools

The Sejm’s Education and Science Committee has unanimously endorsed a government bill to prohibit mobile phone use in primary schools, aiming to foster digital hygiene and improve student concentration.

Government Push for Digital Hygiene

The Parliamentary Committee on Education and Science has unanimously supported a government-proposed amendment to the Law on School Education. The legislation aims to implement a ban on mobile phone usage in both public and private primary schools.

Education Minister Barbara Nowacka emphasized that the move is a direct response to requests from teachers, noting that many schools have already implemented internal bans. Nowacka argued that chronic smartphone use negatively impacts concentration, interpersonal relationships, and mental health.

Political Consensus and Proposed Amendments

While the bill received broad support from the governing coalition, opposition MPs from PiS pointed to previous policy disagreements during the tenure of the former education minister. Discussions also touched upon the necessity of public education campaigns regarding smartphone addiction.

Legislators discussed expanding the ban to include kindergartens, with the Minister expressing willingness to support such an amendment. Furthermore, a proposal was adopted to clarify the collaboration between schools and parents regarding systemic rule-breaking by students.

Implementation and Scope of the Ban

Under the new rules, primary school students will be prohibited from using phones and other communication or recording devices on school grounds, including during breaks and extracurricular activities. Exceptions exist for health-related needs, emergencies, or direct teacher instruction.

Secondary schools, such as high schools and technical colleges, will not be subject to a nationwide ban but must codify their own policies in school statutes. The new regulations are scheduled to take effect on September 1, 2026, with schools given until October 31, 2026, to adjust their internal policies.