Israel’s Education Ministry has unveiled a new nationwide policy that will bar primary school pupils from using mobile phones within school premises beginning February 2, marking one of the country’s most significant steps yet toward curbing digital distractions among children.

Unlike previous years, when individual schools were free to set their own rules, the new directive creates a uniform, countrywide standard. Officials say the decision arose from mounting evidence that excessive smartphone access is undermining children’s concentration, social interaction and emotional wellbeing.

Education Minister Yoav Kisch said the initiative draws from “broad studies conducted in Israel and internationally,” adding that the ministry’s priority is to “protect the learning environment and reduce the negative effects of phone dependence on students.”

Under the new arrangement, primary schools will incorporate classroom discussions and structured digital-literacy sessions to help pupils adopt healthier smartphone habits. Parents will also be engaged in ongoing dialogues aimed at tackling issues such as excessive social media use and exposure to inappropriate online content.

The policy shift follows smaller-scale measures already in place. Since September, all schools in Tel Aviv have enforced a smartphone ban based on a municipal directive, a move that authorities say helped influence the national rollout.

Israel now joins a growing list of countries tightening restrictions on children’s access to mobile phones during school hours. Australia, France and several European nations have adopted similar rules in recent years.

According to UNESCO, nearly 40 percent of educational systems globally had implemented some form of school-phone restriction by the end of 2024, a sharp rise from 30 percent the previous year, reflecting worldwide concern over the impact of smartphones on learning.

The ministry says the February policy will be reviewed after implementation to evaluate compliance and measure its effect on academic focus, student behaviour and overall school climate.