School Phone Policies Around the World: The 2025 Global Guide
A country-by-country overview of school mobile phone bans and restrictions, and why lockable pouches have become the standard enforcement method.
A global shift
More countries and regions are restricting student mobile phone use during the school day than ever before. From national laws to state and provincial directives, the global trend is clear: phones are being moved out of lessons, and schools are expected to show how they enforce it.
Europe
France led Europe with its 2018 law banning mobile phone use in primary and lower-secondary schools. The Netherlands introduced national guidance banning phones and smart devices from classrooms in 2024, extended to primary schools the following year. Italy, Greece, Spain, Finland and Denmark have all followed with their own restrictions.
Oceania, South America and Asia
Outside Europe, the pace has been even faster. Australia now has phone restrictions in every state and territory. New Zealand introduced a nationwide "phones away for the day" requirement in April 2024. Brazil enacted a federal law in January 2025. South Korea passed legislation for the 2026 school year. Singapore's Ministry of Education moved schools towards restricting phone use in 2025.
North America
In North America, more than half of US states have acted through legislation or board policy, with major districts such as Los Angeles Unified going bell-to-bell. Canadian provinces including Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec and others tightened classroom rules from 2024.
The shared challenge: enforcement
The common challenge across all of these countries is enforcement. Confiscating phones creates liability and parent complaints. Lockers are slow. Lockable pouches have become the standard answer: the student keeps the device in their own bag all day, sealed in a tamper-evident pouch they cannot open without the magnetic key. It removes the confrontation of confiscation while keeping the policy clear and auditable.
Country-by-country guides
This guide links to our country-specific breakdowns for the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, India and Singapore, where we set out the exact rules and what they mean for school leaders choosing an enforcement method.
Frequently asked questions
- Which countries have banned phones in schools?
- France, the Netherlands, Italy, Greece, Brazil, Australia (all states), New Zealand, Finland and others have national or nationwide restrictions. Many more have state, provincial or cantonal rules.
- How do schools enforce phone bans without confiscation?
- Lockable magnetic pouches let students keep their device but make it unusable until the end of the day, which is why they have become the global standard.
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