Smartphones prohibited in schools up to 9th grade starting from January 2027

The President of the Republic, António José Seguro, promulgated this Friday the decree that extends the ban on smartphone use in schools to students up to the 9th grade. The new rules come fully into effect on January 1, 2027, after an adaptation period during the first months of next year. This measure applies to all primary and secondary education establishments, covering millions of students across the country. The ban now extends to a much larger universe of students, who previously had less restrictive rules regarding the use of mobile phones during school hours. The decree was approved by parliament and sent for promulgation by the President of the Republic, in a legislative process that took place over the past few months.