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Greece's School Phone Ban: What Schools Need to Know in 2026
Yes. Since 11 September 2024, pupils in Greek schools may bring a phone but must keep it in their bag for the whole school day. Visible possession or use on school premises can lead to a one-day suspension.
Under ministry rules, pupils may not visibly possess or use mobile phones or other devices that record sound or images on school premises. Phones must stay in school bags throughout the school day. The only stated exception is for medically necessary apps, with documentation. A first breach brings a one-day suspension, recording others without consent can bring up to five days, and serious cases can lead to transfer to another school.
A general ban on phones in Greek schools has existed since the early 2000s but was hard to enforce. In March 2024 the government introduced tougher cyberbullying rules. In late August 2024, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the Cell Phones in the School Bag initiative, which took effect when the 2024/25 school year began on 11 September 2024.
Enforcement has been strict. By late October 2024, more than 6,000 pupils had been suspended for phone use, with Attica accounting for over 2,000. The secondary teachers' federation said warnings come before suspensions, and parents' groups have called for prevention over punishment. Officials said they did not expect full compliance from day one.
Whatever Greece's rules require, lockable pouches let students keep their own phone, locked, from the first bell to the last, so the gymnasio or lykeio does not collect, store or answer for devices. Before The Internet ships lockable phone pouches and unlocking bases worldwide, including to Greece, 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
Can pupils bring phones to school?
Yes, but the phone must stay in the school bag for the whole school day and must not be visible or used.
What is the penalty for using a phone?
A first breach brings a one-day suspension. Recording others without consent can bring up to five days, and serious cases can lead to transfer.
Are there medical exemptions?
Yes. Medically necessary apps are allowed with documentation.
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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