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The Dominican Republic's School Phone Ban: What Schools Need to Know in 2026
Partly. Under MINERD Departmental Order 11-2026, issued on 27 May 2026, personal phones are fully banned in nivel inicial, restricted during teaching hours in primary, and allowed under supervised school rules in secondary, in public and private schools.
Order 11-2026 from the Ministry of Education (MINERD) applies to public and private schools. Phones are fully banned in nivel inicial. In primary, phones, tablets, smartwatches and personal audio are barred during teaching hours unless a teacher authorises a planned activity. Secondary schools set supervised rules. Students who need technology for learning or accessibility are exempt.
The Minister, Luis Miguel De Camps, announced the order on 27 May 2026, saying technology should support learning, not harm attention or school life. Schools had a 90-day transition to adapt their rules before classes resumed after the summer, so it applies from the 2026-2027 school year. The parents' federation (Fapmae) publicly backed the order.
Each school must write a protocol into its code of conduct, with teachers, families and students. Schools may confiscate devices; a parent must collect them in person and sign a compliance agreement. Recording or sharing images of students or staff without consent is banned. Schools can extend limits to recess and hallways, and must offer active breaks.
Whatever Order 11-2026 requires, 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 the Dominican Republic, 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
Does the order apply to private colegios?
Yes. Order 11-2026 applies to public and private schools across the country.
Can a school confiscate a phone?
Yes. Confiscated devices are returned only to a parent or guardian in person, who signs a compliance agreement.
Are phones banned in secondary school?
Not fully. Secondary schools must regulate and supervise use under teaching criteria each school sets. The full ban applies to nivel inicial.
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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