Czech Government Approves Ban on Mobile Phones in Schools: What Changes from 2027

On Monday, the Czech government approved an amendment to the Schools Act introducing a complete ban on the use of mobile phones in kindergartens and schools. The bill was put forward by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and Education Minister Robert Plaga (both ANO), and the ban itself is set to take effect from 1 September 2027.

The new rules will apply to kindergartens, preparatory classes at primary schools, and the lower years of multi-year gymnasiums and conservatories. Secondary vocational schools and higher education institutions will not be affected by the restriction.

At present, each school decides for itself whether to ban gadgets during lessons or breaks. Once the amendment takes effect, the ban will become uniform for everyone — pupils will be prohibited from using phones, tablets and smartwatches even during breaks, unless the school specifically permits devices to be used for lessons.

Children will not be barred from bringing phones to school at all — the question is simply how the institution organises storage of the devices: in a locker kept closed all day, or simply in a backpack. If a pupil breaks the rule, the school will be entitled to confiscate the device until the end of the school day, returning it once the pupil leaves the building.

Exceptions are foreseen for the general rule. Children who need gadgets for medical reasons — for example, diabetics monitoring their blood sugar levels — will still be allowed to use them, as will pupils with special educational needs for whom a device serves as an assistive tool. In addition, the ban will not apply during school trips, excursions and outdoor lessons.

For breaking the rules, schools will apply the usual disciplinary measures — ranging from a remark from the class teacher to a reprimand from the head teacher, or a lower conduct grade in cases of repeated violations.

The government justifies the move by arguing that phones distract children from their studies and negatively affect their mental health, contributing to anxiety and depression. Under the current wording of the law, it was not possible to introduce uniform rules centrally — schools could only include a ban in their internal regulations at their own discretion, an approach that Prime Minister Babiš found unsatisfactorily fragmented.

Experts remain divided on the issue. The National Institute of Mental Health has long pushed for a ban on mobile phones in schools, citing their harmful effect on children's emotional wellbeing. However, some specialists warn that a blanket ban will not necessarily, on its own, improve pupils' academic performance or mental health — neither Czech nor international research supports such a straightforward effect.

Discussions about regulating phone use in schools had already been underway before the elections. Initially, Minister Plaga favoured a softer approach — in February his ministry issued guidance recommendations for schools. However, Prime Minister Babiš repeatedly insisted that such half-measures were not enough and pushed for an outright, universal ban. In the end, the prime minister's position prevailed, and in June a corresponding bill emerged, which the cabinet has now approved.

Around Prague, based on reporting by seznamzpravy.cz