...
The Senate of the Republic has approved the bill seeking to prohibit the use of personal electronic mobile communication devices in educational establishments providing preschool, primary, and secondary education.
This initiative, now ready for its third legislative stage in the Chamber of Deputies, establishes a framework of rights and duties for students. Its main objective is to bring order to the educational space and strengthen the role of families in digital guidance. The regulation is intended to be implemented starting in the 2026 school year.
Senator Gustavo Sanhueza, president of the Education Commission, explained that the purpose is not merely to ban, but to establish clear rules and foster responsible technology use.
Despite the general prohibition, the approved project establishes specific exceptions where the use of these devices is permitted:
Special Educational Needs (SEN): If the student presents special educational needs and the use of the mobile device is considered a technical aid serving their learning process.
Emergencies or Catastrophes: In the event of an emergency, disaster, or catastrophe.
Medical Monitoring: If the student has a health condition, diagnosed by a physician, requiring periodic monitoring via mobile devices.
Pedagogical Use: If the use of devices is useful for teaching, depending on the nature of the curricular or extracurricular activity, in primary or secondary education.
Personal Security: If the parent or guardian requests it temporarily and with justification, exclusively for reasons of the student’s personal or family security.
The law banning cell phones at all educational levels will enter into force at the start of the 2026 school year. Once the law is published, schools will have until June 30, 2026, to update their internal regulations in accordance with the new standards.