The ban on mobile phone use in Portuguese schools was extended this year to include 9th grade, a measure that aims to reduce distractions and improve the learning environment. The rule, which already applied to lower grades, was expanded to cover basic education students.
Some schools have expressed interest in taking this ban even further, intending to extend the rule to 12th grade, meaning the entire secondary education level. These institutions argue that the measure could benefit older students in the same way.
The ban is part of a broader trend of regulating technology use in schools, with several European countries adopting similar measures. In Portugal, the implementation has generated debate about the best way to reconcile the ban with educational needs.
