Kyrgyzstan Eyes Ban on Cell Phones in Schools, Universities

UNESCO recommended in July 2023 that schools worldwide adopt smartphone bans to improve academic performance and minimize classroom distractions.

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Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Education and Science has introduced a draft decree aimed at limiting the use of cell phones in the country’s educational institutions.

The initiative, currently open for public discussion, aims to enhance the educational and social environment and shield students from the adverse effects of excessive technology use, The Caspian Post reports, citing The Times of Central Asia.

Under the proposed regulations, students and staff must switch their phones to silent mode upon entering the premises. Students are encouraged to turn off their devices and store them in designated classrooms. Phones would only be permitted during breaks or in emergencies. The decree also prohibits charging devices within educational institutions.

The draft includes strict measures against misuse. It bans distributing materials depicting violence, cruelty, or pornography via mobile devices and forbids actions that could harm an institution’s reputation. Unauthorized photography and videography would also be prohibited.

Special guidelines apply to educators, who would be barred from using phones during lessons unless directly related to educational purposes.

The ministry emphasized that the proposed rules are designed to protect students’ health, curb bullying, and combat the spread of harmful content.

Several countries in the post-Soviet space and beyond have implemented similar restrictions on cell phone use in schools. In Russia, as of December 19, 2023, students are prohibited from using mobile devices during lessons except in emergencies involving life or health threats. Azerbaijan and Tajikistan have enacted comparable bans to enhance student focus and educational quality.

Globally, France has prohibited cell phone use for students aged 3 to 15 since September 2018 to reduce distractions and improve academic discipline. The Netherlands introduced a smartphone ban in schools at the start of 2024, citing benefits such as better academic performance and reduced student anxiety.

UNESCO recommended in July 2023 that schools worldwide adopt smartphone bans to improve academic performance and minimize classroom distractions. Proponents of such measures argue that they increase student concentration, improve education quality, and mitigate the impact of digital devices on children’s mental health.