Polish President Karol Nawrocki signs law banning phones in schools

President Karol Nawrocki signed five bills on 30 July 2026, including an amendment to the Education Law that prohibits the use of mobile phones and other communication or recording devices by children in kindergartens and primary schools. The ban takes effect on 1 September 2026 and applies during lessons, breaks, school‑organized activities and even outdoor physical‑education classes.

Exceptions are allowed when a teacher deems a device necessary for a lesson, for urgent contact with parents, or when health or safety is at risk; a school director may also permit use for illness, disability or other special needs. One of the five statutes was sent to the Constitutional Court for a secondary review.