Starting in the 2025–2026 academic year, the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices will be banned in primary and secondary schools across Belgium, with only limited exceptions for educational use, urgent parental contact, or medical needs.
While all three language communities are enforcing bans, each is taking a different approach. In Wallonia and Brussels, a decree by the French Community government extends an earlier restriction: from 2025, recreational use of phones will be outlawed in all schools, including pre-primary. Schools may still set sanctions, but the prohibition itself is non-negotiable.
The German-speaking community is following suit, applying the ban throughout the school day — including breaks — with regional health body Kaleido offering support to schools on implementation.
In Flanders, rules are more decentralised. A total ban already applies in pre-primary and primary schools, while in secondary schools it will be tiered: no devices at all during lessons and breaks in the first two years, and in class only from the third year onward. Smartwatches are covered under the same rules.
Education officials argue the measures are needed to improve pupils’ concentration, reduce anxiety and cyberbullying, and encourage face-to-face interaction.
Belgium now joins a growing list of European countries moving in this direction. France banned phones for all pupils under 15 in 2018, the Netherlands introduced restrictions last year, while Portugal and Hungary have recently adopted similar laws.
