In many classrooms, the biggest competition for a teacher is not the weather outside or noise in the hall. It is the phone in a student’s pocket. That is one reason school smartphone bans are spreading so quickly. UNESCO reported on March 17, 2026, that 114 education systems, or 58% of countries worldwide, now have a national ban on mobile phones in schools. In June 2023, the share was only 24%, so the change has been dramatic. UNESCO also says that the United States still has no national rule, but 39 states now either have statewide bans or require school districts to restrict phone use in class. (unesco.org)
Different countries are taking different paths. France has banned phone use in elementary and middle schools since 2018, although exceptions are possible for educational use and for students with disabilities or health needs. In the Netherlands, phones, tablets, and smartwatches have not been allowed in secondary school classrooms since January 1, 2024, and the rule expanded to primary schools and special education in the 2024-2025 school year. In England, government guidance issued on February 19, 2024, supported schools in stopping phone use during the whole school day, including break times. (service-public.gouv.fr)
Why are schools doing this? OECD analysis based on PISA data says three-quarters of students in OECD countries spend more than one hour per weekday browsing social networks, and nearly one in three students gets distracted by digital devices in class. That helps explain why many teachers want calmer, more focused lessons. But UNESCO gives an important warning: banning phones may reduce distraction, yet it does not solve the whole problem. Children still need digital literacy, critical thinking, and healthy screen habits. In other words, schools are trying to do two jobs at once: protect attention today and prepare students for a digital world tomorrow. (oecd.org)
