Schools will take possession of students' phones - tips for safe storage solutions
Starting September 1, 2025, Belarusian schools will introduce a nationwide policy banning the use of mobile phones during classes. This move is part of a broader effort by the Belarusian Ministry of Education to improve students' health and well-being [1].
Marina Ilyina, the Chair of the Minsk City Executive Committee's Education Committee, recently stated on STV channel that the changes in Belarusian schools, including the increase in physical education lessons and the implementation of 10-day educational field camps for 10th graders, are intended to achieve this goal [2].
To ensure compliance with the ban, schools will designate specific areas for phone storage. Each school will have a storage zone for gadgets under video surveillance to ensure their safety until the end of classes [3]. The details on how schools will organize the storage and safety of mobile phones during the school day are not explicitly detailed, but it is implied that phones must be collected or stored securely away from classrooms during lessons.
The 10-day educational field camps for 10th graders will begin immediately after the 10th grade classes end, from May 26th, and will last until June 5th [4]. These camps are mandatory for all 10th graders, not just cadets and suvorovtsy [5].
In addition to the gadget ban during classes, the Ministry of Education is implementing other changes in Belarusian schools. From September 1st, students will have more physical education lessons in their educational plans [6]. The exact number of lessons per week for each grade is not specified in the current information.
Starting from 2026, the 10-day educational field camps for 10th graders will become a regular part of the school calendar [7].
Marina Ilyina emphasised that today's children are excessively immersed in the virtual world, often using phones for both information search and communication [8]. The ban on mobile phones during classes is part of an effort to reduce the amount of time students spend on their phones and promote a healthier lifestyle.
In conclusion, Belarusian schools will become mobile phone-free zones starting September 1, 2025, banning phones during classes and likely throughout the school day. The organization of phone storage and safety during school hours is not detailed but is implied to involve removal or secure containment. The Ministry of Education is implementing other changes in Belarusian schools, including increased physical education lessons and the implementation of 10-day educational field camps for 10th graders, all aimed at improving students' health and well-being.
- To counter the excessive use of technology among students, the implementation of education-and-self-development programs, such as the mandatory 10-day educational field camps for 10th graders, is being introduced to promote a healthier lifestyle and reduce screen time.
- As part of their efforts to reduce the influence of technology and enhance students' physical health, schools in Belarus will also use technology themselves, setting up video-surveilled storage zones for students' gadgets during lessons, discouraging their use during classroom hours.
