The Polish government has approved a bill to ban phone and smartwatch use for students under 16 in schools, Reuters reports. The measure still requires approval from the Polish parliament and President Karol Nawrocki to become law. If passed, the ban will prohibit devices’ use throughout the entire school day, including breaks and post-class activities, according to Notes from Poland.
Students will be permitted to bring their devices but must leave them in a designated location provided by the school until departure. The ban excludes teachers and school staff, as well as students with illnesses, disabilities, and special needs, including those monitoring medical conditions like blood sugar. Students may request to use their phones in emergencies.
If the bill is approved, it will take effect at the start of the next school year on September 1. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated, “We propose a ban on the use of mobile phones during classes and breaks in primary schools. This is not a perfect solution, we have no illusions about that, but we must address this serious problem, which is addiction to phones and the internet.”
💬 Premier @donaldtusk:
Proponujemy zakaz używania telefonów komórkowych w trakcie zajęć i przerw w szkołach podstawowych. To nie jest rozwiązanie idealne, nie mamy żadnych iluzji, ale musimy rozwiązać ten poważny problem, jakim jest uzależnienie od telefonu i internetu. pic.twitter.com/KJ4atWi51i— Kancelaria Premiera (@PremierRP) June 2, 2026
The proposed ban follows similar measures in other countries. Italy banned phones in schools in 2024 and extended it to high school students last year. South Korea implemented a ban on phone use during school hours starting in March of this year. Research in the Netherlands has shown that banning phones improved student concentration and enhanced the social environment in schools.
Additionally, the Polish government approved a bill requiring adult websites to implement age verification systems to keep children out. The UK was the first country to mandate age verification for online pornography in 2019, with other regions and U.S. states adopting similar measures since then.
