Poland to Ban Smartphones in All Primary Schools From Sept. 1, 2026

Poland's government has approved draft legislation to ban mobile phones and other devices that can record audio or video from all primary schools, with the measure set to take effect on September 1, 2026, pending parliamentary approval.

Details of the Proposal

The draft law would prohibit the use of mobile phones and similar recording devices during lessons and breaks in both public and private primary schools. In Poland, primary education runs through eighth grade, so the ban would cover students up to and including that level.

Exceptions

Limited exceptions would be allowed when a device is required for instructional activities, to provide educational support, or for health and safety reasons. Schools would be able to permit phones in specific cases that directly support learning or student welfare.

Online Child-Protection Measures

Alongside the school ban, the government approved a package of measures aimed at strengthening online child protection. Proposals include tougher restrictions on minors' access to pornographic websites and rules to accelerate the removal of illegal content from the internet.

Under the plan, operators of adult-content sites would be required to verify users' ages anonymously, without collecting browser data or other personal information, in order to limit minors' access while protecting user privacy.

Context and Next Steps

Education Minister Barbara Nowacka said the proposal responds to calls from teachers for stricter rules on smartphone use in schools, noting that more than half of Poland's schools have already introduced similar restrictions voluntarily.

The draft will now be submitted to parliament for consideration. If adopted, the law would take effect at the start of the 2026–2027 academic year on September 1, 2026.