Polish schools face challenges enforcing new smartphone ban

Polish primary schools will soon have to enforce a smartphone ban without receiving dedicated tools from the education ministry, according to legal expert Robert Gałęski of Lexbridge.

The rules, taking effect Sept. 1, prohibit smartphone use during lessons, breaks, care and educational activities, including those held outside school grounds. Exceptions cover situations involving a student’s health, safety risks and approved teaching purposes. Students may still bring phones to school.

Schools are considering two main approaches. The cheaper option is to require students to keep devices in their backpacks, although that offers limited control. Another is a deposit system, with phones stored in lockers, boxes or special pouches.

A school director may designate a storage area with the approval of the teachers’ and parents’ councils and after consulting the student council. The school must secure the devices and protect students’ privacy. It could also be held responsible if a deposited phone is damaged or stolen.

The law allows teachers to instruct students to place phones in the designated area, but not to take a device from a student’s hand or use physical force. Refusal may lead to a warning, reprimand, a call to parents or a lower conduct grade if the school’s statutes allow it. Schools already operating similar restrictions say punishment alone is insufficient and that students need alternatives during breaks, such as sports equipment, library access or places to rest.

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Schools do not know what enforcing the new law imposed by the ministry will look like in practice.