In January 2025, President Lula signed a historic law prohibiting the use of cellphones in Brazilian schools, both public and private. The measure, which will take effect in 30 days, restricts the use of portable electronic devices during classes, recess, and breaks at all stages of basic education.
The new legislation emerges at a time of intense global debate about the impact of technology in education. PISA 2022 data reveals that 80% of Brazilian students are distracted by cellphones during math classes, negatively impacting their academic performance. A London School of Economics study showed that schools that banned smartphones saw up to 14% improvement in student grades.
However, the law's implementation faces significant challenges. Experts point to structural problems, such as the lack of infrastructure to safely store devices and the need for adequate teacher training. Additionally, 86% of Brazilian families support some type of restriction on cellphone use in the classroom, according to Nexus research.
The law provides important exceptions, allowing device use for pedagogical purposes under teacher guidance, as well as cases involving accessibility, inclusion, and health conditions. This flexibility seeks to balance the need for control with the educational possibilities that technology can offer.
The debate remains active in the educational community, with some experts arguing that simple prohibition does not solve the fundamental problem of digital education. It is necessary to develop broader strategies that include teacher training, adequate infrastructure, and the development of methodologies that constructively integrate technology into the educational process.
