Italy Issues Decisive Ban: Smartphones and Smartwatches Barred from Classrooms Across All Grades
Under Ministerial Circular No. 3392 issued by Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara, Italy has completely prohibited smartphones and smartwatches in classrooms, returning to traditional notebooks and focused teaching.
Italy's Ministry of Education and Merit (MIM) has enacted Ministerial Circular No. 3392, extending a comprehensive ban on smartphones, smartwatches, and personal connected devices across primary, middle, and high schools nationwide.
The decree strictly forbids smartphone use during class hours, even for purported educational or research purposes. Citing empirical studies from the OECD and WHO, the ministry underscored that persistent screen interruptions severely impair memory retention, deep reading, and cognitive endurance.
The new regulations mandate a return to handwriting, physical textbooks, and face-to-face classroom dialogue. Exceptions are strictly limited to students with certified disabilities or learning difficulties (PEI/PDP compensatory plans).
Italian schools are updating disciplinary codes to confiscate devices or store them in secure lockers upon entry, holding students accountable for maintaining an uninterrupted academic environment.
Minister Valditara declared: 'We must protect our children's attention spans, rebuild pedagogical authority, and restore genuine human relationships in the classroom.'
Set Your Own Digital Boundaries Today
As international authorities enact strict measures against screen addiction, empower yourself with Limitra App Block. Draw firm, distraction-free boundaries for social media and rebuild your focus.
Get on Google Play ↗