SERBIA moves to ban mobile phones in schools: National Assembly to decide within months

Photo: Infokg.rs

Next month, members of the Serbian National Assembly are set to debate a complete ban on the use of mobile phones in primary and secondary schools.

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Even before this practice may become the law, it has already been successfully implemented in some schools in Serbia.

Citizens Ombudsman Zoran Pasalic previously announced that such solutions will soon be extended to all educational institutions, considering that in early 2026 a bill would be submitted to the Serbian National Assembly designed to ban the use of mobile phones in primary and secondary schools.

Proposed model

The proposed legal solutions envisage a strict model that would apply equally to elementary and high school students:

Handing over upon entry: Students would be required to hand over mobile phones immediately upon entering the school premises.

Usage only after the end of classes: Mobile devices can be taken over by owners only after the end of the day's classes.

No phones during breaks: Under this model, phones would not be allowed to be used even during breaks between classes.

Pasalic stressed that the only exceptions would be special cases when a mobile device is necessary due to a student's health - which would have to be supported by appropriate medical documentation.

Role of teacher in communication

When it comes to any other situation, communication with parents would be the exclusive duty of the teacher. Pasalic noted that teachers are in charge of communicating with parents if there is a need for that - and that this is already their legal obligation.

Next steps

The bill has garnered significant public support in Serbia - while at the same time drawing criticism, especially from students.

That is why the Panel of Young Advisors, which consists of high school and elementary school students, will submit their comments and suggestions to the bill by the end of this week.

After that process has been completed, the Citizens Ombudsman plans to submit the legal proposal to the Serbian National Assembly in early 2026 at the latest, while the dynamics of the debate will depend on parliamentary procedures.

(Telegraf.rs)