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Portugal extends school smartphone ban to 9th grade from 2027
The Portuguese Council of Ministers approved an amendment to the Student Statute that will extend the national ban on smartphones in schools to include pupils in the 3rd cycle (7th to 9th grades). The measure takes effect on 1 January 2027, with schools given the first term of the 2026/27 academic year to adapt their internal regulations. Exceptions for health‑related reasons will be permitted with proper documentation.
Minister of Education Fernando Alexandre said the decision follows an international trend and a survey of school directors that showed a 36 % rise in socialisation and a 13 % drop in indiscipline where phones are prohibited. A study by the Centre for Planning and Policy Evaluation (PLANAPP) also reported that 52 % of 3rd‑cycle schools already ban smartphones and 82 % apply some restriction, with improvements in discipline (13 % reduction in fully banned schools, 9 % where only partial limits apply). The parents’ federation CONFAP publicly criticized the total ban, urging a more nuanced approach.
The ban previously covered only 1st‑ to 5th‑grade students and will now apply to all pupils up to the 9th grade.
Entities
CONFAP (Confederação Nacional das Associações de Pais) · Council of Ministers · Council of Ministers (Portugal) · Fernando Alexandre · Ministry of Education (Portugal) · PLANAPP (Centre for Planning and Policy Evaluation) · PLANAPP (Centro de Planeamento e de Avaliação de Políticas Públicas) · PLANAPP – Centre for Planning and Policy Evaluation · Portugal · Student Statute
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 10 SOURCES] The current ban on smartphones in Portuguese schools applies to students in 1st to 5th grades. observador.pt · www.noticiasdecoimbra.pt · jornaleconomico.sapo.pt · zap.aeiou.pt · www.campeaoprovincias.pt · +4 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] In schools without smartphones, socialisation increased by 36 % and discipline improved by 13 %; with partial restrictions, socialisation rose 16 % and discipline improved 9 %. postal.pt · www.noticiasdecoimbra.pt · www.sabado.pt · jornaleconomico.sapo.pt · zap.aeiou.pt · +3 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] Portugal will amend the Student Statute to prohibit smartphone use for pupils in 7th to 9th grades starting 1 January 2027. observador.pt · postal.pt · www.noticiasdecoimbra.pt · www.sabado.pt · jornaleconomico.sapo.pt · +3 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] Health‑related exceptions to the smartphone ban will be permitted with proper documentation. observador.pt · postal.pt · www.noticiasdecoimbra.pt · www.sabado.pt · jornaleconomico.sapo.pt · +4 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] Schools will have the first term of the new academic year to adapt to the smartphone ban. observador.pt · postal.pt · www.noticiasdecoimbra.pt · www.sabado.pt · jornaleconomico.sapo.pt · +4 more
- [● 11 SOURCES] 52 % of 3rd‑cycle schools already banned smartphones and 82 % imposed some restriction. postal.pt · www.noticiasdecoimbra.pt · www.sabado.pt · jornaleconomico.sapo.pt · zap.aeiou.pt · +5 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The amendment will be approved by the Council of Ministers on the Thursday of the report. observador.pt · www.noticiasdecoimbra.pt · jornaleconomico.sapo.pt · zap.aeiou.pt · www.campeaoprovincias.pt · +3 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] The decision was based on an international trend and a survey showing increased socialisation (+36%) and reduced indiscipline (‑13%) where phones are prohibited. postal.pt · www.noticiasdecoimbra.pt · www.sabado.pt · jornaleconomico.sapo.pt · zap.aeiou.pt · +4 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] In schools with a total ban, indiscipline fell by 13 %; in schools with partial restrictions, it fell by 9 %. radiocastrense.pt · jornaleconomico.sapo.pt
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The parents’ federation CONFAP publicly opposed the total ban extension, calling for a more nuanced approach. rr.pt
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Portuguese Council of Ministers approved an amendment to the Student Statute to extend the school smartphone ban to the 3rd cycle (7th to 9th grades) effective 1 January 2027. zap.aeiou.pt · radiocastrense.pt · www.apdc.pt