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The Maldives' School Phone Ban: What Schools Need to Know in 2026
Yes. From the 2026 academic year, students in Grade 10 and below in the Maldives may not bring mobile phones to school. Students in Grades 11 and 12 (A-Level) may bring phones but must keep them in lockers during school hours.
The rule, enforced from the 2026 academic year, has two tiers. Students in Grade 10 and below may not bring mobile phones to school or use them during school hours. Older A-Level students in Grades 11 and 12 may bring phones but must store them in designated lockers during school hours. Reports differ slightly on wording, with some saying below Grade 10, but official media quote Grade 10 and below.
President Mohamed Muizzu announced the stricter enforcement on 21 December 2025. He said rules already barred phones for younger students but that enforcement had been weak. He cited parents' complaints about inappropriate content and discipline problems, including incidents at Addu High School. A February 2026 public petition to the Majlis asked for a social media ban for under-16s and even stricter school phone rules.
The Ministry of Education said it was acquiring a locker system for classrooms so A-Level students can store phones during lessons. For younger students the rule is simple: the phone stays at home. The government linked the policy to a wider focus on ethics and moral upbringing in secondary schools, announced by Education Minister Dr Ismail Shafeeu.
Whatever the 2026 rules require for each grade, 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 the Maldives, 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
Which students can bring a phone to school?
Only A-Level students in Grades 11 and 12, who must keep phones in designated lockers during school hours. Students in Grade 10 and below may not bring them.
When did the rule take effect?
President Muizzu announced it in December 2025 for the next academic year, and it applied in the 2026 school year.
Will the government supply storage?
The Ministry of Education said it was acquiring classroom lockers for A-Level students' phones. Schools may still choose other secure storage, such as lockable pouches.
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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