Read about the new rule from the Portuguese Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (MECI).
Mobile phones, other electronic communication devices and other devices with an internet connection have been prohibited in Portuguese primary schools for the 2025/2026 academic year. There are some exceptions to the rule, such as where students need to contact parents. This can be done without authorisation through basic mobile devices that have no internet access. Prior authorisation can be given for students to use internet-connected devices for education, health or translation purposes by school staff, as appropriate.
This new rule follows 2024/2025’s ‘encouragement’ to prohibit students from bringing or using smartphones on school premises and lower secondary schools being advised to implement measures to discourage the use of mobile phones in school. Upper secondary school, however, are ‘recommended to involve [students] in the joint development of rules for the responsible use of smartphones in school premises’.
MECI measured the impact of the recommendations from the 2024/2025 academic year and found that:
- by the end of the school year, 79% of primary schools banned smartphones for Years 1 to 4 and 41% for Years 5 and 6.
- schools implementing the bans reported reductions in bullying, poor behaviour and physical conflict.
- socialisation improved – areas like libraries and playgrounds were used more and participation in physical activities increased.
Observations from schools helped to set the current guidelines and MECI wanted to introduce the prohibition to ensure there were clear expectations that apply across schools nationally. The aim of the prohibition of mobile phones is to ‘promote safer, more inclusive and learning-friendly school environments.’ 1
