The government has endorsed a ban on cell phones in schools

Under the proposal, the ban would apply not only to classes themselves, but also to recess, school cafeterias, after-school programs, and school clubs. Children would be allowed to bring their phones to school, but they would not be permitted to use them during the school day unless an exception provided for by law applies. These exceptions would include, in particular, health reasons, special educational needs, or the use of the device directly for instructional purposes with the school’s consent. The sponsors of the bill—Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and Minister of Education Robert Plaga—justify the change as an effort to improve the classroom environment, promote face-to-face communication among children, and limit the negative effects of excessive use of mobile devices and social media.

However, the proposal also has its critics. The Children’s Ombudsman has previously pointed out that such a fundamental intervention in school life should be based on clear expert evidence and should also take into account the opinions of the children themselves. The opposition ODS party rejects a blanket ban as too simplistic a solution and instead proposes clear rules for the use of school devices, restricted access to social media, and the promotion of digital literacy. Critics also point out that schools can already regulate cell phone use through their school rules and that a legal ban could place additional monitoring responsibilities on teachers. The bill is now awaiting debate in the Chamber of Deputies.