Government backs school phone ban, critics say it's unnecessary
The Czech government has approved a proposal to ban the use of mobile phones in schools. Starting in 2027, the ban would apply to children in nursery, primary schools, grammar schools and conservatories. The opposition and the Children's Ombudsman oppose the proposal, arguing that it is unnecessary.
In the classroom, during breaks, in after-school clubs and even in the school cafeteria. Under the proposal, children would no longer be allowed to use mobile phones or other electronic devices in any of these places. According to Education Minister Robert Plaga (ANO), the cabinet unanimously backed the measure.
"Scientific studies show it, and you can also see it for yourself in schools that have already introduced such rules – they work. Children talk to each other again, schools are once more filled with children's voices instead of pupils scrolling through their phones during breaks and then being unable to concentrate in class."
Children would still be allowed to use mobile phones in exceptional cases, for example to monitor diabetes or as an aid related to a disability.
"We haven't forgotten that there are children who need a mobile phone because of a health condition and have an application on it that they rely on. The law allows for such use. Likewise, it does not prevent phones from being used during lessons for educational purposes."
The opposition, however, disagrees with the proposal. According to the leader of the Civic Democrats (ODS), Martin Kupka, there is no need for a blanket ban.
"This is a ban that shifts responsibility away from everyone else and ultimately turns teachers into inspectors checking the contents of children's backpacks. At the same time, Czech schools already have guidelines that allow them to decide for themselves how to regulate mobile phone use."
Schools currently set their own rules on phone use through their internal regulations. According to the government, around 93 percent of primary schools and multi-year grammar schools have already introduced such rules. This is also the argument used by Children's Ombudsman Martin Beneš, who opposed the proposal during the consultation process.
"In my view, individual solutions at the level of each school work much better because schools can discuss them with parents, children and students. They can tailor the rules to the needs of pupils at that particular school. I think that works far better than a centrally imposed solution."
On the other hand, Karel Strachota, director of the educational programme One World at Schools, supports nationwide regulation. According to him, individual school rules are not enough.
"At the events we organise, almost every teacher mentions the huge problem of classroom disruption. They also often say that parents would support it if the state clearly said: 'Yes, this is the right approach.'"
The government says the proposal is based on recommendations from the National Institute of Mental Health, which warns about the risks of addiction, anxiety, depression and poorer academic performance. According to Jana Zapletalová, chair of the Association of School Psychologists, the biggest problem is messaging apps that children use to communicate during lessons.
"One of the best-known examples is Snapchat. It's a popular social network where all content disappears after a while. The problem is that children constantly check it, and we now have clear evidence that this significantly disrupts their attention and concentration at school."
The proposal will now go before the Chamber of Deputies. If it is approved by Parliament and signed by the president, the Czech Republic will join more than half of European countries that have already introduced similar nationwide rules, including France, Austria and Greece.