New Era in Portuguese Schools: Phones Go in Bags, Class Bells Ring Late for High School Students

September is just around the corner and with only a few days left until the new academic year in Portugal, important changes that directly concern both parents and students are on the table. The steps taken against screen addiction, especially in school corridors and classrooms, are becoming much more concrete this year. Farewell to Smartphones in Secondary Schools The phone ban, which has already been implemented in the first level of primary and secondary school (1st to 6th grades), is expanding its scope as of this year. With the new regulation, the use of smartphones within the school boundaries will be completely eliminated for 7th, 8th and 9th grade students, that is, young people in the 14-15 age group. Although the legal obligation appears on the calendar as January 1, 2027, the majority of schools are preparing to go through the process immediately, that is, from the beginning of the 2026/2027 academic year. Aim; To ensure that students, teachers and families get used to this new tempo early. The application does not prevent the child from bringing a phone to school; The main goal is to keep devices turned off or inaccessible within school boundaries, during breaks and lessons. Screens will go away except for health reasons or educational situations specifically permitted by the teacher. This decision, which follows similar steps in countries such as France, the Netherlands and Sweden, aims to enable children to actually chat with each other during breaks and to regain their focus in the lesson. Opening for High Schools Has Been Postponed for One WeekAnother critical detail that families should know this year is the gradual opening schedule. For the majority of students, the first class bell will ring between September 11-15. However, education at the high school level (10th, 11th and 12th grades) will not start until September 21. The reason for this one-week delay is the calendar adjustment related to the extraordinary session of national exams. Families with children of different ages at home will need to plan according to this opening difference. Citizenship Curriculum is Maintained as It Is In addition to all these changes, the Citizenship and Development (Cidadania e Desenvolvimento) course in the curriculum continues with its eight main headings. While Human Rights, Democracy, Sustainability and Financial Literacy are covered as mandatory; Critical issues such as Health, Media Literacy and Traffic Safety will continue to be conveyed to children at different stages of education. Source: SOL (Inês Lopes)