Starting September first this year, Russian schools will prohibit mobile phones in classrooms. The announcement came from the head of the Ministry of Education, Sergey Kravtsov, at the all-Russian parents’ meeting, according to TASS.
The minister said the rule aligns with new sanitary guidelines. “From this academic year phones will be present in classrooms but may not be used,” he stated. “During lessons, so they do not distract students.”
Kravtsov defended the ban by noting that parents sometimes call or text during breaks.
The department head added, “If there is an emergency, parents will certainly call and say there is a teacher or a classroom teacher.”
Not all educators share the view. The interregional teachers’ union Uchitel told socialbites.ca that the ban may be excessive and less effective than hoped, though some teachers back the move.
Is the smartphone to blame?
In the law “On Education,” decisions about bans like this are made by each school independently, said Vsevolod Lukhovitsky, a member of the board of the Interregional Union of Education Workers “Teacher,” to socialbites.ca.
“If parents, teachers, and students decide it is necessary for their school, the policy can be adopted. Amendments to the statute, a local law, or internal regulations would be required,” he noted.
He suggested Kravtsov’s remarks aim to demonstrate concern for students ahead of the new school year. “We’ll hear more explanations from various officials about how they view schooling before September 1, instead of focusing on normal school funding and management,” Lukhovitsky commented.
Experts point out that smartphones are not the sole obstacle to learning. “There’s a belief that phones cause distractions, but the broader school environment plays a larger role,” Lukhovitsky added. “A phone alone does not doom a good classroom.”
He recalled that bans implemented by individual schools have faced challenges in the past. Uchitel’s representative noted that prosecutor checks in different regions found it illegal to deprive children of their phones after complaints from families.
Many parents feel that children should be able to reach them at any time. “The school can decide how to handle this: either keep a phone in hand or require the child to raise a hand to call a teacher if unwell,” the expert said.
Have the kids lost control?
Alexander Snegurov, an honored Russian teacher, told socialbites.ca that most students in classrooms are distracted by their phones. “There will be conflicts with this order, which I generally support. But what if a parent must call urgently? How did we cope without such calls for decades?” he asked.
Snegurov argued that while a ban is needed, a teacher should foster a trustworthy classroom atmosphere. “Trust, a supportive environment, and a calm pedagogy help students accept a phone ban. That’s essential,” he said.
Some classrooms already test tools for managing devices, such as a blanket with pockets for phones near the doorway. “Technology is advancing quickly, and many students return from summer break with new devices. The teaching process still needs their focus and engagement,” he added.
Irina Mazirka, head of the Association of English Language Teachers in the Moscow Region and a linguist, noted that after students began placing smartphones in a bag in the front row, teachers became more attentive in class. “Adolescents often show dependence on phones. It isn’t simply a matter of interest in a language.”
She warned that the problem could worsen in higher education. “There is no perfect English term for this behavior—students may be present physically but not listening or processing what is being explained.”
Lyubov Pavlyuchenkova, a Russian language and literature teacher and a member of the Public Council for Educational Modernization, observed that students sometimes use smartphones to cheat, supporting the ban as reasonable. “Phones disrupt the teacher’s work; students may distract themselves and their peers by peeking at screens.”
Consider parents’ opinions
Irina Volynets, head of the National Committee of Parents, told socialbites.ca that bans should not be mandatory but discussed with families. “Gaining parental consent is more effective than a strict prohibition. It helps reduce distractions from gaming and social networks,” she emphasized.
Activists note that disregarding parental input in some schools can spark conflicts. “Over time this could lead to negativity and new problems. Schools should work in harmony with parents,” Volynets explained.
Volynets urged parents to help children turn off their phones during lessons. “I told my own children that phones should not be used in class. Not all parents share this view, but it’s important to prevent students from falling behind,” he added.
He warned that smartphone addiction can affect academic focus later in life, including college lectures and professional settings. “The best approach is to have kids switch to silent mode and place phones away. It avoids embarrassing students when a phone is taken by a teacher.”
As of January 1, 2021, new sanitary and epidemiological requirements in Russia barred the use of mobile communications for educational purposes in schools. Phones should not be substitutes for computers or tablets in lessons, since small screens can cause eye strain and poor posture, according to the Ministry of Education.