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Finland's School Phone Ban: What Schools Need to Know in 2026
Partly. Since 1 August 2025, Finnish law bars comprehensive school pupils (grades 1 to 9) from using phones and other mobile devices during lessons, unless a teacher allows it for learning or health reasons. Schools set their own rules for breaks.
Amendments to the Basic Education Act took effect on 1 August 2025. Pupils in comprehensive school may not use phones, tablets, headphones or smartwatches during lessons, except for learning with the teacher's permission, for health reasons such as monitoring diabetes, or as assistive technology. Each school's rules of order must also state how devices are stored and used during breaks, transitions and meals. Upper secondary and vocational schools are not bound by the lesson ban.
Parliament passed the changes in spring 2025 and they applied from the 2025/26 school year. Before that, schools could restrict phones through their own rules, and many already did. The Finnish National Agency for Education issued guidance alongside the law, recommending a full ban at mealtimes and restrictions during breaks. General upper secondary and vocational providers may still set restrictions in their own rules of order.
Schools decide the details. Helsinki's comprehensive schools must keep at least some recess time mobile-free, and the city recommends no devices at lunch or between lessons. Storage options cited by the national agency include phone parking spots, lockers and keeping devices in backpacks. Where a school provides lockers it takes responsibility for the phones; otherwise pupils remain responsible for their own devices.
Whatever Finland's Basic Education Act requires, lockable pouches let students keep their own phone, locked, from the first bell to the last, so the peruskoulu does not collect, store or answer for devices. Before The Internet ships lockable phone pouches and unlocking bases worldwide, including to Finland, 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 Finnish ban cover breaks and lunch?
The law bans use during lessons. Schools must set rules for breaks and meals in their rules of order, and national guidance recommends no phones at mealtimes.
Does it apply to upper secondary schools?
No. The mandatory lesson ban covers comprehensive school (basic education). Upper secondary and vocational providers may set their own restrictions.
Are there medical exemptions?
Yes. Devices may be used for health reasons, such as monitoring blood sugar, and as assistive technology.
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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