Polish Sejm adopts ban on mobile phones in primary schools and kindergartens

Poland mobile phone ban primary schools e‑diary education reform

The Polish Sejm voted overwhelmingly (420 in favour, 6 against, 4 abstentions) to amend the Education Law, prohibiting the use of mobile phones and other communication devices in primary schools and kindergarten classes starting 1 September 2026. The ban applies to all such devices, with exemptions when a teacher permits use for teaching, urgent contact with parents, health reasons approved by the school director, or threats to life and safety. School heads must provide written justification for any refusal of a health‑related request. The amendment now proceeds to the Senate for approval.

Separately, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Digitalisation have drafted a proposal for a free, state‑run electronic diary (e‑Dziennik) to be piloted in the 2026/27 school year. Estimated implementation and maintenance costs total about 190 million złoty through 2035. Industry groups and the teachers’ union have voiced concerns about duplicating teachers’ duties, lack of integration with existing systems, rapid rollout, and data security. The proposal calls for thorough cost and risk analysis and broad market dialogue before adoption.