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Georgia's School Phone Ban: What Schools Need to Know in 2026
Yes. Since 1 September 2026 a ministerial order bans non-educational use of phones and smartwatches in Georgian schools, for students in all grades at public and private schools. Students switch devices off and place them in classroom storage units before the first lesson and collect them after classes.
The rule is an order of the Minister of Education, Science and Youth published in the Legislative Herald in June 2026 and in force from 1 September 2026. It bans non-educational use of electronic communication devices during the learning process. Reports say it covers public and private schools and breaks as well as lessons. Exemptions cover teaching with staff approval, documented medical monitoring, emergencies and students with special educational needs.
Education Minister Givi Mikanadze announced the restriction in December 2025 as part of a general education reform. In January 2026 the ministry said detailed rules were still being drafted. The order was approved in early June 2026, and acting minister Zviad Gabisonia set out the details. It arrived with other changes for 2026-27, including uniforms for grades 1 to 6 and a move from 12 to 11 compulsory grades.
Every school had to buy and install secure, lockable storage units with individual compartments, sized for phones in cases, by 1 September 2026. Schools must update internal regulations, name responsible staff and tell parents. Parents reach children through official school channels, such as the class teacher or school landline. Breaches lead to disciplinary measures under school regulations, and schools that fail to comply also face disciplinary responsibility.
Whatever the rule in Georgia requires, and the order obliges every school to provide secure storage, lockable pouches let students keep their own phone, locked, from the first bell to the last, so the school does not collect, store or answer for devices. Before The Internet ships lockable phone pouches and unlocking bases worldwide, including to Georgia, 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
When did the ban take effect?
On 1 September 2026, the deadline set by the ministerial order for schools to install phone storage and update their rules for the 2026-27 school year.
Are there exemptions for medical needs?
Yes. A student may use a device for health monitoring, such as blood sugar tracking, if parents provide prior documentation. Exemptions also cover emergencies, teaching use with approval and students with special educational needs.
Do schools have to use lockers, or can they use phone pouches?
The order requires secure, lockable storage that keeps each device separate, and reports describe classroom units and lockers. Schools wanting to use pouches should check with the ministry that they meet the storage requirement.
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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