The bill passed the lower house of parliament by 420 votes to six, with four MPs abstaining.
Under the new rules, students in public and private elementary schools would be prohibited from using cell phones or other devices capable of communication or audio and video recording while on school premises.
School principals would be permitted to establish secure storage areas for phones and other electronic devices with the approval of teachers' and parents' councils, after consulting the student council.
The storage facilities must ensure safe handling of devices and protect student privacy by preventing unauthorized access to content. Principals would also be allowed to set detailed rules for storing and retrieving devices.
The ban also covers preschools, kindergarten classes in elementary schools and other forms of early childhood education. In those settings, children would not be allowed to bring cell phones or other electronic devices onto school premises.
The legislation provides for several exceptions, including when a teacher considers a device necessary for educational purposes or assessment, when urgent contact with parents is required, when a student has permission from the principal to use a phone or specialized health app for medical reasons, or in emergencies "involving a threat to life or health."
If a principal denies permission for a student to use a device for health reasons, they must provide a written explanation.
The ban would apply during classes, breaks and all school activities, including those held at outdoor sports facilities. It would not apply during field trips, stays at boarding schools or when school facilities are used by residents outside school hours.
Secondary schools would not face a nationwide ban, but each of them must define its own rules or choose to impose a ban.
Schools would be able to impose disciplinary measures for violations, and repeated breaches may affect students' conduct grades.
(pu/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP