Lisbon, July 4, 2025 (Lusa) - The government has approved a ban on the use of mobile phones in schools up to the 6th grade and a review of the Citizenship and Development subject, measures that will take effect from the next school year.
In a statement, the cabinet said that a decree-law had been approved that "regulates the use of electronic equipment or devices with internet access, such as smartphones, in schools, banning their use by students up to the 6th grade, starting next school year".
According to the government, "the adoption of prohibition or restriction measures takes into account the results of the study by the Centre for Planning and Evaluation of Public Policies on the recommendations issued by the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation in September 2024 regarding the use of smartphones on school grounds."
The press release also stated that "the revision of the Citizenship and Development subject was approved, with entry into force from the 2025/2026 school year".
At the press conference held at the end of the cabinet meeting, the Minister of Cabinet Affairs announced the approval of a resolution on the use of smartphones in schools, but without specifying in which cycles of education, and the Citizenship and Development subject, referring more details about the approved diplomas to a press conference that the education minister is due to hold at the beginning of next week.
According to the study's conclusions, released today by the Centre for Planning and Evaluation of Public Policies, more than half of the schools that banned the use of smartphones reported a reduction in bullying and indiscipline from the 2nd cycle to secondary school. The overwhelming majority of pupils began to socialise more during breaks, engage in physical activity, and use the playgrounds.
On Monday, the education minister, Fernando Alexandre, said that the government was preparing to ban the use of smartphones in primary and secondary schools, making the recommendation made last year the rule, "regardless of the nature of the institution", i.e. for public and private schools.
Last year, the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation recommended a ban on smartphones from the 1st to the 6th year of school, i.e. until the age of 12, and limited use in the 3rd cycle.
According to the study, only 21.3% of primary schools have not adopted the recommendation, and 59.1% of secondary schools have not either.
In the 3rd cycle, 24.9% banned the use of such equipment, a measure adopted by only 7.6% of secondary schools.
The greatest impacts on reducing bullying and indiscipline were reported by schools that opted for a ban, especially in the 2nd cycle (59% and 53.6% respectively), the 3rd cycle (57.8% and 57.4%) and secondary schools (55.6% and 59.5%).
On the other hand, head teachers shared difficulties in monitoring and implementing the rules, especially in schools where different levels of education coexist, and stated that implementation should be done in phases, accompanied by an awareness-raising phase.
CMP/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
