Sweden plans to ban mobile phones in schools
The ban means students through ninth grade or ages 15-16 must turn in their phones in the morning and pick them up at the end of the school day.
“Research shows that Swedish students are, on average, more distracted by digital tools in the classroom than students in the OECD,” the government said in a statement. he said.
“The government is therefore recommending that mobile phones be banned during the school day.”
According to Swedish news agency TT, about 80 percent of primary and secondary schools in Sweden currently have a ban on mobile phones in classrooms, and the ban is enforced at the discretion of principals.
But Education Minister Simona Mohamsson told a press conference that a nationwide ban was needed to ensure all schools became mobile device-free zones.
“It will reduce distractions in the classroom,” she said, calling it “a win for both teaching and mental health.” He said the ban could also “help reduce screen time, which many parents struggle with at home.”
Mohamsson said data shows that Swedish secondary school students spend an average of almost seven hours a day in front of screens, not including screen time during school hours.
If passed by parliament, the ban will come into force at the start of the autumn term in August 2026 and will also apply to after-school care facilities.
The Scandinavian country launched a national “digitalization” strategy for kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools in 2017, where tablets and laptops replaced many textbooks and handwritten books.
However, the school began to roll back this policy in 2023 after criticism of declining school performance.
