In the new school year, all educational establishments will have to approve policies on the use of personal mobile phones by pupils
The Ministry of Education, Science and Sport and the Ministry of Health have approved the Guidelines on the Use of Personal Mobile Phones and Other Information Technology Devices by Pupils in Pre-School Establishments and Schools of General Education. In line with these, schools will draw up their own rules restricting the use of personal mobile phones.
"We believe that each school will choose the most appropriate option taking into account the situation in its community and in agreement with pupils and parents. The Ministry is preparing and, in the autumn, will submit for consideration a draft amendment to the Law on Education which would legally oblige all schools of general education to adopt a procedure for the use of personal mobile phones on the basis of these guidelines," says Minister Raminta Popovienė.
The guidelines suggest that schools should determine, in their internal regulations, how the use of personal mobile phones will be restricted. For example, they can be left in designated safe places when the pupil arrives at school, or they can be left in pupils' backpacks when switched off or in silent mode. Schools can also set a policy that pupils should not bring them to school at all, etc. The school's policy should also include monitoring measures to ensure that smart devices are used in the way the school has agreed as well as the consequences for failure to comply with the agreements. For example, the school may have the right to temporarily store the phone which would be switched off if the pupil has broken the rules.
The guidelines also set out exceptions for when the phones could be made available to pupils. For example, the phones could be used for educational purposes and at the initiative of a teacher or an educational support specialist by pupils in grades 9-10 and grades I-IV. Mobile phones must be also made available to pupils who need them because of their health or other exceptional circumstances.
Last updated: 01-09-2025
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