The Parliament of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation has just adopted a strong measure: from the 2025-2026 school year, recreational use of smartphones and other connected devices will be banned in all schools, from nursery to the final year of secondary school. This decision is based on WHO and UNESCO recommendations and aims to improve pupils' concentration, foster genuine social interaction and prevent cyberbullying.
However, this ban does not apply to supervised educational use during school activities, nor to specific medical needs. Schools will adapt their internal regulations by the next school year, and this measure will be accompanied by education on responsible digital use.
Valérie Glatigny clarified that “a pupil's possession of a smartphone is always permitted, provided it is switched off and put away from the moment they enter the school premises until the end of the activities taking place there”.