Poland is preparing legislation to ban the use of smartphones in primary schools, with the measure expected to take effect from September 1, 2026, according to statements from Education Minister Barbara Nowacka. The proposed rules would apply to children aged 7 to 15 who attend primary education in the country.
The planned ban forms part of a broader legislative package aimed at restricting children’s use of digital technologies. Government officials said the measures are being finalised and will introduce nationwide rules for mobile phone use in schools.
Under the proposal, students in primary schools would not be allowed to use mobile phones during the school day. Draft legislation presented earlier in parliament also includes provisions to limit children’s access to social media platforms, alongside restrictions on phone use in classrooms.
Officials involved in the proposal said the measures are intended to address concerns linked to children’s use of smartphones and online platforms. Data cited in the legislative process indicated that more than 1.4 million children aged 7 to 12 in Poland use social media, while teenagers spend over five hours online daily on average.
The education ministry has previously stated that legislation could be introduced as early as the next school year, with ongoing work focused on defining the scope and enforcement of the ban.
Mobile phone use in Polish schools is currently regulated at the institutional level, with individual schools setting their own rules. Surveys conducted in 2024 showed that more than half of schools already restrict phone use during lessons, while most apply some form of regulation on school premises.
The proposed law would replace these varied approaches with a uniform national framework. Authorities have not yet published full implementation details, including how compliance would be monitored or what exceptions may apply.