This Monday (13) at an event held in the Palácio do Planalto, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva approved the law banning the use of mobile phones and other electronic equipment in the classroom. The new measure is currently valid for the 2025 academic year and includes the use of devices only in emergencies.
The text, which applies to public and private schools, was approved by Congress in 2024 and aims to reduce device use during learning. The idea is that students can still carry the devices in their backpacks, but their use is prohibited during classes, recess, recess, and extracurricular activities.
However, teachers must allow smartphone use in certain situations, such as pedagogical and teaching activities. Devices can also be used to ensure accessibility, inclusion, fundamental rights and meet students’ health conditions.
According to Minister of Education Camilo Santana, there are no rules regarding the storage of smartphones. The politician says these issues will depend on the infrastructure of each school.
When will it come into force?
The law banning the use of smartphones in the classroom, with presidential sanction, will come into force in February, when the academic year begins. More detailed guidelines and regulations will be developed in January, but schools will be able to implement the proposed rules in February.
It should not be forgotten that the law covers all levels of basic education such as pre-school, primary school and high school. In addition to the use of mobile phones, the law also covers the use of devices such as tablets and smart watches.
Among the reasons that pushed the government to approve the proposal is the relationship between mobile phone use and school performance. According to 2022 data from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), students who used smartphones or other digital devices for more than 5 hours a day had worse test results than those who spent an hour or less on the internet.
The text also requires schools to find ways to address psychological and mental health issues, as well as provide training to detect, prevent and address signs suggestive of these conditions.
Source: Tec Mundo
I’m Ben Stock, a highly experienced and passionate journalist with a career in the news industry spanning more than 10 years. I specialize in writing content for websites, including researching and interviewing sources to produce engaging articles. My current role is as an author at Gadget Onus, where I mainly cover the mobile section.
