Russia Bans Phones in Classrooms from 2026

The Ministry of Education stated that phones distract children during lessons.

Consensus

A ban on mobile phone use during school lessons took effect on September 1, 2026.
The ban is intended to reduce distractions and improve student focus and learning outcomes.
Teachers are allowed to remove students from class who repeatedly violate discipline rules.
Phone use is permitted in emergencies, such as threats to life.
Students may use phones during breaks and after school.
The Ministry of Education issued the directive.

The ban is set to last for one year. — riamo
The ban previously applied only in individual schools. — riamo
Minister Kравцов previously appealed to parents to reconsider their approach to gadget use for preschool children. — vesti
The psychologist Dugentsova suggested using a box or container for storing phones during class. — vm
Psychologist Dugentsova recommended GPS-enabled watches with emergency calling for primary school children. — riamo
The Ministry of Education did not authorize teachers to confiscate phones. — vm
There is a discussion about introducing ethics and speech culture lessons in schools, initiated by the Public Chamber of Russia. — vm