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Are Phones Banned in Costa Rica's Schools? What Schools Need to Know in 2026
Partly. Since the 2026 school year began on 23 February, the MEP's new evaluation and conduct regulation punishes unauthorised phone use in class with conduct-grade deductions. Phones are still allowed at recess. A bill to ban them in class and recess is pending.
The rule sits in the Reglamento de Evaluación de los Aprendizajes y Conducta (REAC), approved by the Consejo Superior de Educación and applied from 23 February 2026. Unauthorised device use that disrupts learning is a serious breach, with 20 points off the conduct grade. Teachers can allow use for teaching. The MEP calls this regulation, not a ban.
The Education Minister, Leonardo Sánchez, announced classroom limits in September 2025. Separately, bill 25.153 by deputy Cynthia Córdoba would ban personal phones and tablets in public and private preschools, primary and secondary schools during class and recess. A committee backed it on 27 February 2026 and the Attorney General's Office found it constitutional. It was awaiting a plenary vote.
Recording, sharing or taking part in violence or bullying costs 35 conduct points. The pass mark for conduct is 65 in primary and 70 in secondary, so repeated breaches can mean failing the year. Teachers were trained from 9 to 20 February 2026. If bill 25.153 passes, the MEP would have six months to issue implementing rules.
Whatever the MEP's rules or bill 25.153 require, lockable pouches let students keep their own phone, locked, from the first bell to the last, so escuelas and colegios do not collect, store or answer for devices. Before The Internet ships lockable phone pouches and unlocking bases worldwide, including to Costa Rica, and can print the school's name or crest on them. Schools buy them outright: one price, no subscription, lease or per-student annual licence. Send us your student numbers and any written quote you already have, and we will beat it.
Frequently asked questions
Are phones banned at recess in Costa Rica?
Not under current MEP rules. Bill 25.153 would extend the ban to recess if passed.
What happens if a student uses a phone in class without permission?
It is a serious breach under the REAC and costs 20 points from the conduct grade. Repeated breaches can lead to failing conduct for the year.
Can teachers allow phones in class?
Yes. Use is permitted when the teacher authorises it for a learning activity.
Related reading
School phone bans by country · Phone-free schools toolkit · How to roll out phone pouches in a school
Written by the team at Before The Internet, a Toronto-based phone-free company that rents lockable phone pouches for events across North America and sells them to schools and venues worldwide, shipping purchases to any country.
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