Belgium’s education system is stepping up efforts to tackle the growing influence of smartphones on students’ well-being and academic performance, with schools in Wallonia reporting positive results following the introduction of stricter smartphone regulations.
Since the start of the 2024 academic year, over 370 state schools in the Wallonie-Bruxelles Enseignement (WBE) network have implemented new smartphone rules as part of the Walloon coalition agreement.
These regulations, often referred to as a “smartphone ban,” aim to encourage responsible use of digital devices rather than an outright prohibition.
David Delcour, WBE’s Executive Vice-President of Innovation and Research, clarified the intent behind the regulations.
“We wanted to make sure students could reach for their smartphone if they needed, for example, to contact their parents or for pedagogical use, but we wanted to make sure they were not just using it anytime anywhere,” Delcour told The Brussels Times.
The policy has already been adopted by many schools, including Thil Lorrain in Verviers, where smartphones have been restricted for three years. Principal Dalia Wolf noted that the shift has been nearly seamless.
“The fact that smartphones were banished in September was almost a non-subject,” she said. Wolf observed a noticeable change in students’ behavior, including less social interaction and increased isolation due to excessive smartphone use.
“I saw students eating screen to screen, not talking, not looking at each other. It’s important to create a community,” Wolf added.
At Thil Lorrain, smartphones must be out of sight during school hours unless being used for educational purposes under teacher supervision.
This rule applies to all students, except those in their final year. The results have been promising: teachers report less conflict among students, with many noting that students are more engaged and present in class.
A similar trend has emerged at the European School Brussels 1, which implemented tighter smartphone rules last year. According to Sigfrido Ramírez Pérez, president of the school’s Parents’ Association, students are now interacting more.
“The students are talking to each other more. There are no more children in the corner on their phones during the whole break. They are playing or reading books,” he said.
The European School follows a similar policy, with restrictions on smartphone use during school hours, except for educational purposes or in the final years of study.
For Ramírez Pérez, the policy extends beyond improving academic performance. “If you are not using the device for hours, you will probably be able to abstain from using it yourself,” he observed, noting the positive impact on students’ habits outside of school hours as well.
While some initial resistance to the smartphone ban was expected, both Wolf and Ramírez Pérez agree that the benefits have far outweighed the concerns.
Wolf recalled that some teachers initially feared the rules would lead to a “war on mobile phones,” but the issue has since dissipated.
For both schools, engaging all stakeholders, including students, in discussions about smartphone use has been key to ensuring the success of the rules.
Delcour emphasized that the regulations are designed to allow flexibility for local schools, enabling them to adapt the rules to their unique needs. “It’s all about education,” said Wolf. “A screen is a tool: we have to educate them on how to use it.”
With the success of these smartphone regulations becoming increasingly clear, there are plans to extend the policy to more schools across Belgium, providing further support for students’ education and mental health.
