Portugal extends school smartphone ban to pupils up to ninth grade – Portugal Resident

The Portuguese government is extending its ban on smartphone use in schools to include pupils up to the ninth year of education, citing evidence that the restrictions improve behaviour and encourage children to socialise.

The measure, approved by the Council of Ministers on Thursday, will amend the Student Statute to prohibit smartphone use throughout the third cycle of basic education (Years 7 to 9). The ban is due to take effect on January 1, 2027, following a transition period during the first term of the next school year to allow schools to update their internal regulations.

The restrictions already apply to pupils in the first and second cycles of basic education, meaning up to sixth grade. Secondary school students will continue to be exempt.

Education Minister Fernando Alexandre said the decision was based on both scientific evidence and the experience of schools that had already introduced their own restrictions.

“The harmful effects on the development of children and young people are now more than evident and have been scientifically proven,” he told Lusa, arguing that the policy aims to create better conditions for learning and healthy development.

According to data from the government’s Centre for Planning and Public Policy Evaluation (PLANAPP), schools that restricted smartphone use saw pupil socialisation increase by 36% compared with schools without restrictions, while incidents of indiscipline also fell.

School leaders also reported fewer cases of cyberbullying and more pupils spending break times talking, playing and taking part in physical activity.

Fernando Alexandre said Portugal was following an international trend towards tighter regulation of smartphones and social media among children and young people.

“There is no doubt that smartphone and social media use needs to be regulated because they generate addictive behaviours that restrict people’s freedom,” he said.

The minister acknowledged that the new rules could prove more difficult to enforce in schools that combine third cycle and secondary education, where older pupils will still be allowed to use their phones.

He also stressed that banning smartphones alone would not solve the wider issues linked to excessive screen use. The government is recruiting 1,406 specialist staff for schools, around half of them psychologists, and is planning improvements to outdoor school spaces to encourage greater interaction between pupils.

Parents oppose extension

The National Confederation of Parents’ Associations (CONFAP) has criticised the decision, arguing that schools should focus on teaching children to use smartphones responsibly rather than imposing a blanket ban.

“We didn’t agree with the restrictions in the second cycle, and we don’t agree with this extension either,” CONFAP president Mariana Carvalho told Renascença radio.

While supporting measures to encourage pupils to spend more time interacting with one another, Carvalho said the organisation favours rules that promote responsible use instead of an outright prohibition.

“We support restrictive measures and clear rules, but also conscious use – not a universal ban for every pupil up to the ninth year,” she said.

Carvalho argued that the success of any restrictions depends on the involvement of the wider school community.

“It is very important to encourage social interaction at school and improve relationships between pupils,” she said. “But without the involvement of the educational community, a prohibition does not necessarily bring the expected benefits and can often result in excessive punishment.”

She also warned that the policy could have unintended consequences at home, with children attempting to make up for the time they are unable to spend on their phones during the school day.

“It will have a negative impact on family time because pupils will try to compensate by using their smartphones excessively once they get home,” Carvalho said, adding that many young people also use their phones to keep up with current affairs, communicate and play games.