Croatia’s Ministry of Science, Education and Youth has put forward a proposal to prohibit the use of mobile phones in all primary schools, marking a significant shift in national education policy. The draft amendments to existing school regulations are currently open for public consultation and seek to formally define phone use during the school day as inappropriate behaviour, except in clearly defined cases related to learning or health needs.
Under the proposal, pupils would still be allowed to bring mobile phones to school, but devices would have to remain switched off and stored away during lessons and breaks.
Individual schools would be responsible for setting detailed rules on storage and permitted exceptions, giving headteachers limited flexibility while maintaining a uniform national standard. The ministry argues that the measure would improve concentration, discipline and the overall classroom atmosphere.
The initiative builds on practices already adopted by many schools and mirrors broader debates across Europe about the impact of smartphones on children’s attention and wellbeing. While secondary school rules would largely remain unchanged, the proposed reform signals a stronger institutional push to reduce screen-related distractions at an earlier age.
