From the start of the 2025-2026 school year, pupils in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation will have to keep their smartphones at the bottom of their schoolbags. A decree brought forward by Minister Valérie Glatigny will ban the recreational use of mobile phones and any connected device during school time, from nursery to the final year of secondary school.
This strong decision is based on the recommendations of the WHO and UNESCO, which highlight the negative impact of smartphones on concentration and social interaction among young people.
From now on, it will still be possible to own a phone at school, but it must remain switched off and put away from the moment pupils enter the school until they leave. The only exceptions will concern supervised educational activities or specific medical needs. Schools are encouraged to adapt their internal rules and, at the same time, provide education on responsible digital use.
The aim is to allow pupils to focus fully on their learning, prevent cyberbullying and encourage genuine human relationships, away from the constant distraction of notifications. This measure marks a shift in how digital technology is approached at school, putting attention and togetherness back at the heart of school life