in-cyprus 28 October 2024 - by Evangelia Sizopoulou
Cyprus has joined a growing number of European countries in banning mobile phone use in schools during school hours.
The new rules extend existing classroom restrictions to include break times, marking a significant shift in school policy. The measure aims to improve learning outcomes and prevent digital addiction among students.
Cyprus follows several European countries that have implemented similar restrictions:
- Finland, often cited as an educational model, introduced a school-wide mobile phone ban at the start of this academic year
- The Netherlands imposed a complete national ban in September, with exceptions for medical needs and specific educational purposes
- France is testing a “digital pause” in 180 middle schools, affecting over 50,000 students, with plans for potential nationwide implementation in 2025
- Belgium has banned phones in French-speaking schools in Brussels and Wallonia
- Italy prohibited mobile phones in classrooms this academic year
- Greece requires students to keep phones in bags throughout the day, with violations resulting in one-day suspensions
The Cypriot ban reflects a broader European trend, though the European Union has no unified policy on mobile phone use in schools. Some countries, including Slovenia and Croatia, still allow individual schools to set their own policies.
Education officials emphasised that Cyprus examined other countries’ experiences before implementing the ban.
