Starting this school year, 373 schools within the Wallonie-Bruxelles Enseignement (WBE) network will ban the use of smartphones.

This decision impacts 132,600 students across Brussels and Wallonia.

The new policy affects nursery, primary, and secondary schools, with some institutions enforcing the ban immediately from the start of the French-language school year on Monday.

The ban, which was briefly mentioned in last month’s Walloon coalition agreement, is being implemented ahead of any political directives by WBE.

Julien Nicaise, director of the WBE network, stated that the ban aims to address bullying and mitigate the health and environmental impacts associated with excessive smartphone use.

The ban will not eliminate the use of digital tools entirely. Smartphones will still be used in lessons on media education and artificial intelligence.

Nicaise emphasized the importance of teaching students how to use these technologies responsibly.

The new measure marks a significant shift in how smartphone use is managed in Belgian schools, reflecting growing concerns about technology’s impact on education and student well-being. (ILKHA)