Experts: Blanket ban on mobile phones in schools will not be effective; it shows distrust in schools' abilities

A government-backed proposal for a nationwide ban on mobile phones in schools, slated to take effect in September 2027, is facing criticism from educators and experts. While the government supports the blanket prohibition, teachers, principals, and specialists interviewed by iDNES.cz express concerns that most schools already have established their own rules regarding mobile phone use. They argue that a universal ban will not yield the desired results. Petra Mazancová, chairwoman of the Teachers' Platform, stated, "This is not support for schools, but a lack of trust in their ability to set their own rules." The experts believe that schools are capable of managing phone usage effectively and that a top-down ban undermines their autonomy and professional judgment. The debate highlights a tension between centralized control and the perceived need for school-level flexibility in addressing the challenges posed by mobile technology in educational settings.