Ban on mobile phones in secondary schools: what does the measure entail for the start of the 2026 school year?

Following the widespread introduction of the «Mobile Phones on Hold» scheme in lower secondary schools at the start of the 2025 school year, the scheme is now being extended to upper secondary schools.

From the start of the 2026 school year, pupils will therefore no longer be allowed to use their mobile phones or other connected devices on school premises, including during meal breaks and during off-campus activities. Exceptions may still be made, particularly for certain educational purposes, to meet the specific needs of certain pupils, or in accordance with the provisions set out in the school’s rules and regulations.

The specific arrangements may therefore vary from one secondary school to another. The aim, however, remains the same: to keep mobile phones out of reach during school hours, so that they no longer constantly dictate the rhythm of pupils’ days.

As a teenager, switching off isn’t always that easy

Messages, notifications, group chats… The smartphone has become a central part of teenagers’ daily lives.

However, at this stage of life, attention spans are still developing. Resisting the urge to check a notification or your messages, or deciding not to open an app, takes effort.

Collectively putting smartphones away for a few hours can therefore help to reduce constant distractions and ensure that young people are better able to focus on their studies and social lives. 

This common rule also has another benefit: it ensures that the responsibility for «knowing when to stop» does not rest solely on each teenager, given that exercising this self-control can be difficult, even for adults.

Providing a respite from cyberbullying

Keeping a distance from one’s mobile phone can also play a part in preventing cyberbullying.

For some young victims of bullying, the abuse does not stop at the school gates. A comment, a photo, a video, a humiliating message or a group chat can extend school bullying right onto the victim’s mobile phone and thus into their most private spaces.

Smartphones can thus create a kind of continuity between bullying at school and cyberbullying, making it particularly difficult to find a moment of respite.

Restricting access to mobile phones during the school day will obviously not put an end to cyberbullying. However, this measure may help to ensure that the school remains a space where digital harassment and abuse cannot instantly follow pupils into the classroom.

Initial feedback on the «Mobile Break» scheme in secondary schools supports this view: the Ministry of Education reports that schools taking part in the pilot scheme have seen an improvement in the school environment and a reduction in reports of cyberbullying and incidents linked to social media.

Banning mobile phones, but above all learning to use them more effectively

However, if this measure is to be truly educational, it cannot simply involve asking teenagers to put their phones away.

The aim is not to teach them to live without digital technology. Smartphones, social media and messaging apps will continue to be part of their daily lives, their social lives and, in the future, their working lives.

The aim, therefore, is more to help them gradually regain control over their usage : understanding why certain apps grab their attention, knowing how to turn off certain notifications, recognising when their phone is becoming too intrusive, and knowing how to respond when a problematic situation arises online.