Sweden plans to ban the use of mobile phones in primary and secondary school classrooms nationwide.

The Swedish government said on January 28 that, if approved by Parliament, it will ban students from using cell phones in classrooms in primary and secondary schools nationwide starting from the new school year in August, in order to ensure students can concentrate and pay attention. Students with teaching needs or special needs are exempt. Sweden provides nine years of free compulsory education, with this ban covering students up to the age of 16. According to Agence France-Presse, under the new regulations, students must hand in their phones when they arrive at school and can only retrieve them at the end of the school day. The Swedish government stated in a press release, "Research shows that Swedish students are more disturbed by electronic devices in the classroom than the average among member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development," and therefore the government proposes to implement a cell phone ban throughout the school day. If approved by Parliament, this ban on cell phones will be implemented starting from the beginning of the fall semester in August and will extend to after-school care facilities and open leisure activities.