Schools in Serbia and Czechia debate mobile phone bans

Legislative discussions and school-level initiatives regarding the ban of mobile phones in educational settings are gaining momentum in Serbia and the Czech Republic.

In Serbia, educators and officials are discussing a potential state-level law to regulate mobile device use. At the Lazar Savatić Elementary School in Zemun, a new policy implemented on October 1 requires students in grades five through eight to store their phones in locked boxes upon arrival, making them unavailable even during breaks. Ombudsman Zoran Pašalić noted that consultations are ongoing to address concerns from parents regarding communication with their children.

In the Czech Republic, a parliamentary initiative to ban mobile phones in schools has prompted calls for exceptions. Parents are advocating for a distinction between active smartphone use and passive safety devices, such as GPS watches. Proponents argue these watches allow for emergency SOS functions and location tracking without the distractions of social media or internet access. While the National Pedagogical Institute (NPI) suggests GPS locators do not pose the same distraction risks as phones, they noted the difficulty for schools to distinguish them from full smartwatches and raised concerns regarding a child's sense of autonomy.