January 28, 2026, 5:19 p.mJanuary 28, 2026, 5:19 p.m
Sweden wants to ban cell phones from all primary schools in the country starting next school year. Primary school in Sweden goes up to the ninth grade. The government presented a corresponding draft law. “Students have to hand in their cell phones at the beginning of the school day and get them back at the end,” said Swedish Education Minister Simona Mohamsson. The ban from August 1st will also apply to afternoon care at schools.
According to the minister, cell phones have become an integral part of students’ lives. “Smartphones and social media are also a place where abuse and bullying take place.” The ban, Mohamsson hopes, could both ensure students learn better and lead to better mental health for children.
According to a 2024 study by the Swedish Health Authority and the Media Authority, students in seventh to ninth grades spent almost seven hours a day in front of the screen – not counting school time.
Many schools already have a ban on cell phones
In practice, according to the TT news agency, cell phones are already banned in four out of five Swedish schools. Primary school principals can already decide for themselves. But that is not enough, said Education Minister Simona Mohamsson.
In several European countries, such as France or the Netherlands, cell phone bans in lessons have been in effect for a long time. Italy bans smartphone use even in higher classes. Chancellor Friedrich Merz also supports a ban on cell phones in primary schools, as he said on the ARD program “Caren Miosga” last October. (hkl/sda/dpa)