Myanmar bans mobile phone use for primary school students during class

Myanmar’s Ministry of Education announced a prohibition on the use of mobile phones by primary‑school pupils during classroom time, aiming to curb excessive social‑media exposure and protect children from age‑inappropriate content. The directive, issued on 26 July 2026, includes guidelines for schools to ensure safe and effective digital practices and calls for collaboration with other ministries and organisations to raise awareness among parents, teachers and students about digital safety.

The move follows similar restrictions adopted by a number of other nations, such as the Czech Republic, France, Finland, the United Kingdom and Singapore, which have implemented bans or limits on mobile phone use in schools at various education levels.