A ban on the recreational use of mobile phones by students in schools has been approved by the education committee of the Parliament of the French Community (FWB) on Monday.
The decree is expected to come into effect from the next school year, covering all levels from kindergarten to the end of secondary education.
"The goal is not to demonise this tool but to regulate its usage time among the youngest," commented Minister Valérie Glatigny (MR) during the presentation of the decree to MPs.
Already implemented in many other countries, this ban aims to enhance the quality of learning, improve student concentration, and generally better the school environment.
The specific details of this ban, including fines, will be decided by school management and incorporated into their internal regulations.
The educational use of smartphones in class will still be permitted. Exemptions are also provided for students with disabilities or those with health issues requiring medical devices that include communication equipment.
Illustration picture shows kids, in a kindergarten school in Etterbeek, Brussels, Tuesday 02 June 2020. Credit: Belga
The draft decree was approved on Monday afternoon by the coalition parties (MR-Les Engagés), supported by the opposition Socialist Party (PS). Opposition parties Ecolo and PTB abstained. The text is expected to be definitively approved by the FWB Parliament of in a plenary session within the next fortnight.
As of the start of the school year, a ban was put in place for pupils of up to 12 years. It did not, however, affect every school – only 373 schools in the Wallonie-Bruxelles Enseignement (WBE) network.
The French Community Government, also known as the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (FWB), are in charge running French-speaking education. It is led by MR and Les Engagés since June 2024.
The ban follows the lead of other European countries: the Netherlands, Spain, France and Italy have already introduced rules restricting or completely banning the use of smartphones in schools.
In Flanders, there is no general ban but some schools have decided to forbid the devices on their own accord. A future ban was announced in December by the Flemish Education Minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA).
