Israel Expands School Phone Ban to Middle Schools from September

Israel will implement a nationwide ban on smartphone use in middle schools starting September, aiming to enhance classroom focus and social development. UNESCO reports a global trend of increasing smartphone bans in schools.

Mon May 18 2026

Middle School Phone Ban Expansion

Israel's Ministry of Education announced a new policy to prohibit mobile phones in middle schools starting this September. This expands on a restriction already in place in elementary schools since February. Students will not be allowed to use their phones anywhere on school grounds and will either have to keep their devices switched off while carrying them or hand them over to be stored by the school during the day. The Education Ministry stated that the aim is to strengthen social ties, reduce distractions, and increase attention to learning among students.

Global Push Against Phones in Classrooms

According to UNESCO, approximately 40% of education systems worldwide will have some form of smartphone ban in schools by the end of 2024. This figure stood at 30% a year earlier in 2023. Governments around the world are increasingly cracking down on smartphone use in classrooms amid concerns of distraction, reduced attention spans, and the impact on student social and mental well-being. Israel's National Parents Leadership Association welcomed the policy as a step in the right direction but argued that it should also be accompanied by changes to teaching methods and the school curriculum.

*Source: YouTube: WION (2026-05-18)*

Tags: #Israel #Education #SmartphoneBan #SchoolPolicy #ClassroomDistraction