New regulations regarding smartphone use will take effect in Polish primary schools on September 1, 2026. The Ministry of Education’s decision, made after consultations between Minister Barbara Nowacka and Prime Minister Donald Tusk, aims to counteract digital addiction and improve student concentration. Below, we present the key assumptions of the planned changes, the exceptions provided, and the organizational aspects of implementing the new regulations.
Implementation of new regulations in educational institutions
The changes will come into effect at the beginning of the 2026/2027 school year. As announced by the Ministry of Education, formal restrictions on the use of mobile devices will be introduced both during classes and breaks. It should be noted that these regulations do not mean a complete ban on students owning phones. Children will still be able to bring devices to school, but each school will be required to develop and implement an internal system for safely storing devices while students are in the school building (e.g., depositing them in lockers).
When will students be able to use their phones? Exceptions are provided.
The proposed law includes situations in which smartphone use will remain permissible. The first exception concerns situations where the device is necessary to achieve specific teaching goals specified by the teacher. A separate exception is provided for health reasons – this applies, for example, to students with diabetes who use smartphones to monitor their glucose levels. Furthermore, the rules will provide for the possibility of contacting parents or guardians in urgent and justified life situations.
Reactions from the school community and the international context
The planned changes are part of a broader trend observed in many European countries, such as France and Italy, where similar top-down regulations have been in place for some time. Child psychology experts and educators largely welcome the ministry’s announcements. They point out that standardizing regulations at the national level will relieve principals of individual institutions of the burden of making difficult organizational decisions on their own. Meanwhile, some parents express cautious concerns about logistical issues, primarily inquiring about how the purchase of appropriate lockers and deposit boxes will be financed, ensuring the safe storage of equipment throughout the entire school day.
Justification of the ministry’s decision and work schedule
Following discussions with the Prime Minister, Minister Barbara Nowacka announced that the decision to introduce top-down regulations is a response to disturbing statistics. According to some studies, smartphone addiction affects a significant portion of Polish youth. The Ministry hopes that limiting digital stimuli will improve student concentration and facilitate the work of teachers. A draft law is currently being prepared and is scheduled to be submitted to the Sejm in the spring of 2026. It’s worth noting that over half of Polish schools have already implemented similar restrictions in their own statutes.
Sources: Głos.pl / Tg@ukrainianinpolandpl
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