Polish Minister of Education Barbara Nowacka stated that her ministry supports schools’ right to independently decide on the use of mobile phones based on agreements with parents. However, the introduction of such legislation is not currently being considered.
In an interview with RMF FM, Nowacka noted that a general ban at the legislative level is a “very complex” mechanism. She added that in many countries, students are required to leave their phones at the entrance to the classroom, and she expressed support for such initiatives.
At the same time, the minister acknowledged that young people do indeed overuse smartphones and emphasized the importance of parental involvement in addressing this issue. Meanwhile, Speaker of the Polish Sejm and presidential candidate from the “Third Way” bloc, Szymon Hołownia, has voiced support for a complete ban on smartphones in schools.
The issue of restricting mobile phone use is being actively discussed in several European countries. For example, in Latvia, students in grades 1-6 are prohibited from using phones while at school. In France, starting in January 2025, as part of a pilot project, students in lower grades at certain schools will be required to leave their smartphones in lockers upon entering the school.
