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Turkey's School Phone Ban: What Schools Need to Know in 2026
Yes. Turkey's Ministry of National Education has banned students from having mobile phones in the classroom since the 2023-24 school year, across all state schools. Since 2025-26 teachers may not use phones during lessons either, and the rule continues for 2026-27.
The rule rests on ministry circulars sent to all 81 provinces, not a law passed by parliament. Circular 2025/63 states that student phone use in schools is prohibited. The 2026-27 opening circular, signed by Minister Yusuf Tekin, says the practice of students not keeping phones in the classroom will continue, and that teachers may not use phones during lessons. It covers schools under the ministry, from pre-school to secondary and vocational.
Minister Yusuf Tekin announced in September 2023 that students would hand in phones before entering class, with teachers expected to set an example. The ministry's 2025-26 guidelines extended the ban to teachers in lessons. The circular for 2026-27, published in August 2026 ahead of the 14 September start, kept both rules. Separately, parliament passed a law in April 2026 barring social media platforms from serving children under 15.
Schools publish the circular and apply the disciplinary scale in secondary school regulations. Using a device to record, message or communicate without permission can bring a reprimand, using it to harass staff a short suspension, and spreading harmful or violent content can lead to expulsion. How phones are collected is left to schools. Some teachers have objected to the teacher ban, saying village schools rely on phones when power or internet fails.
Whatever the rule in Turkey requires, and the ministry's circular keeps phones out of classrooms in okullar nationwide, 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 Turkey, 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
Is the ban a law or a ministry rule?
It is a Ministry of National Education rule set out in circulars to provincial directorates, backed by the disciplinary provisions in school regulations. It is not a separate act of parliament.
Does it apply to teachers?
Yes. Since the 2025-26 school year teachers may not use mobile phones during lessons, and the 2026-27 circular keeps that rule.
What happens if a student breaks the rule?
Schools apply the disciplinary scale in the regulations, from a reprimand for unauthorised recording or messaging up to expulsion for spreading harmful or violent content.
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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