Sweden plans to ban the use of mobile phones in primary and middle schools nationwide.

The Swedish government announced on the 28th local time that, if approved by parliament, it will ban students from using mobile phones in classrooms in primary and secondary schools nationwide starting from August in the new academic year, in order to ensure that students can pay attention during lessons. Students with special needs or educational requirements are exempted. Sweden has a nine-year free compulsory education system, and this ban covers students up to the age of 16. It is reported that after the new regulations are implemented, students will have to hand in their phones when they arrive at school and can retrieve them when school ends. The Swedish government stated in a release, "Research shows that Swedish students are more distracted by electronic devices in the classroom than the average level of members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, so the government proposes to implement a cellphone ban throughout school hours." According to Swedish sources, currently about 80% of Swedish primary and secondary schools have implemented measures to prohibit the use of phones in classrooms.