Portugal to ban smartphones in schools up to 9th grade starting 2027
Portugal's Minister of Education Fernando Alexandre announced an amendment to the Student Statute that will prohibit the use of smartphones by pupils in the 3rd cycle (7th to 9th grades). The measure, which currently applies only to students in the 1st to 5th grades, will take effect on 1 January 2027 after approval by the Council of Ministers. Schools will have the first term of the new academic year to adjust, and health‑related exceptions will be permitted with proper documentation.
The decision was justified by an international trend and a recent survey of school directors showing that classrooms without phones experience greater socialisation and less indiscipline. The survey found that 52 % of 3rd‑cycle schools already banned smartphones and 82 % imposed some restriction. In schools where phones are banned, socialisation rose 36 % and discipline improved 13 %; schools with partial restrictions saw a 16 % rise in socialisation and a 9 % improvement in discipline. Fernando Alexandre said the ban protects young people and counters the documented harmful effects of smartphone use on development.
Entities: Fernando Alexandre · Ministry of Education (Portugal) · PLANAPP – Centre for Planning and Policy Evaluation · Portugal · Student Statute
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The current ban on smartphones in Portuguese schools applies to students in 1st to 5th grades.
- [● 4 SOURCES] In schools without smartphones, socialisation increased by 36 % and discipline improved by 13 %; with partial restrictions, socialisation rose 16 % and discipline improved 9 %.
- [● 5 SOURCES] Portugal will amend the Student Statute to prohibit smartphone use for pupils in 7th to 9th grades starting 1 January 2027. (minister Fernando Alexandre)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Health‑related exceptions to the smartphone ban will be permitted with proper documentation.
- [● 5 SOURCES] Schools will have the first term of the new academic year to adapt to the smartphone ban.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The ban decision was based on an international trend and a survey of school directors showing increased socialisation and reduced indiscipline where phones are prohibited.
- [● 4 SOURCES] 52 % of 3rd‑cycle schools already banned smartphones and 82 % imposed some restriction.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The amendment will be approved by the Council of Ministers on the Thursday of the report.