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Malaysia's School Phone Ban: What Schools Need to Know in 2026
Yes. Ministry of Education professional circulars bar students from bringing and using personal devices, including phones, at school. A 2018 circular lets schools allow certain devices for teaching and learning under set conditions.
The ban comes from Ministry of Education professional circulars (Surat Pekeliling Ikhtisas), not an act of Parliament. Students may not bring or use personal devices, including mobile phones, in school areas. Professional Circular No. 2 of 2018 sets out when certain devices may be used for teaching and learning, with conditions of use and duties for students, teachers and administrators.
In October 2025, after a fatal stabbing at a Selangor secondary school, the Prime Minister proposed barring smartphone use by students aged 16 and under, and the ministry said it would study guidelines. In December 2025 Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek told the Dewan Negara the existing ban remains in place. New national guidelines had not been confirmed at the time of writing.
Where devices are allowed for lessons, the 2018 circular aims to prevent access to inappropriate content, screen addiction and excessive gaming. Schools apply the rules through their own discipline procedures. The ministry runs awareness programmes with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and the police. Teachers' groups have said phones are unnecessary for pupils in school.
Whatever the rule in Malaysia requires, lockable pouches let students keep their own phone, locked, from the first bell to the last, so sekolah menengah do not collect, store or answer for devices. Before The Internet ships lockable phone pouches and unlocking bases worldwide, including to Malaysia, 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 students bring phones to school in Malaysia?
Not as a rule. MOE circulars bar personal devices at school, though a 2018 circular lets schools allow certain devices for learning under conditions.
Is a new under-16 smartphone ban coming?
It was proposed in October 2025 and the ministry said it would issue guidelines. As of late 2025 the minister said the existing ban still applied.
What does Circular No. 2 of 2018 do?
It sets conditions for using certain devices for teaching and learning, and the responsibilities of students, teachers and administrators.
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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