site.btaUPDATED Bulgarian Schools to Ban Mobile Phones as of January 2026

A ban on the use of mobile phones in schools is expected to come into force in January 2026 with the conclusive adoption of amendments to the Preschool and School Education Act, Education and Science Minister Krasimir Valchev said on Monday in the village of Tarnava, Byala Slatina Municipality.

He pointed out that about 800 schools ban cell phones even now by a decision of the school management even before the law has been voted in parliament. In most, the ban is applicable in the classroom but students are allowed to use their phones during the breaks. 

According to the Minister, what is more important is how students use their mobile phones during the rest of the day, outside school. "Although phones will be banned in schools, if students continue to spend an average of three hours a day on them outside school, this will come at the expense of developing other essential skills. Children are becoming addicted, their concentration and critical thinking are impaired, and the function of the prefrontal cortex of the brain is altered — something that can already be observed in EEG scans," Minister Valchev explained.

He cited a study conducted in 88 countries, according to which Bulgarian students rank second in terms of screen time, using that the least for educational purposes and the most for social media.

“That is why we are opening a discussion on the use of social networks. Whether we will reach the point of introducing restrictions is a matter of further dialogue,” the Minister commented. He mentioned a joint European initiative launched by the Danish Presidency for child online safety and suggested it is only a matter of time before restrictions are introduced.

“Even now there are limits on platform registrations — the question is how to make these restrictions more effective,” Valchev added.

The Minister also quoted the Danish Prime Minister as saying, ”We have unleashed a monster. Mobile phones and social media are stealing our children’s childhood.”

Valchev underscored that efforts to limit screen time must be jointly undertaken by the education system and parents.

Krasimir Valchev was in the village of Tarnava for the opening of a new gym at the local primary school. The facility was built with funding from the Ministry of Education and Science, worth nearly BGN 1.5 million.

He also held a meeting with teachers from Byala Slatina Municipality.