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TEL AVIV — Smartphones will be banned from all schools in Tel Aviv starting in September, Mayor Ron Huldai announced on Thursday, aiming to create a distraction-free learning environment and strengthen social bonds among students.
“We won’t let technology control us — we are removing smartphones from schools,” Huldai declared in a statement. The veteran mayor, who has led the city since 1998, emphasized the need to reclaim students‘ focus and encourage genuine human interaction.
Under the new plan, smartphones will be entirely prohibited across all educational institutions in the city from the beginning of the new academic year.
Several dozen elementary schools and at least three high schools have already started to limit smartphone use during school hours, serving as a pilot for the broader ban.
Huldai’s vision goes beyond merely eliminating distractions. “My dream is that we will succeed together in pushing ourselves and our city’s educational system forward, out of our comfort zone, and that we will relearn the importance of attention and be fully present in the right place and at the right time,” he stated.
The mayor highlighted the importance of face-to-face interactions among students, arguing that excessive smartphone use is hindering meaningful communication.
“Our goal is to create a distraction-free learning environment that fosters higher achievements and stronger social bonds,” he said.
Despite Tel Aviv’s reputation as a tech hub, Huldai insisted that balance is essential: “While innovation is a fundamental part of life in Tel Aviv… we also want to allow children to have simple moments with each other.”
The move aligns Tel Aviv with a growing international trend to limit or ban smartphones in schools. Last month, Denmark’s education minister announced a forthcoming bill to prohibit mobile phones and personal tablets in schools, with Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt arguing that “screens are robbing many of our children of their childhood.”
Similarly, Brazil, a country with more smartphones than people, imposed a ban on the devices in schools earlier this year.
A report by UNESCO revealed that by the end of 2024, 40 percent of education systems globally had some form of restriction on smartphone use in schools, an increase from 30 percent the previous year.
The UN body has raised concerns about the impact of smartphones on students’ ability to concentrate and the growing risks of cyberbullying.
Huldai’s announcement has sparked a range of reactions from parents and educators in Tel Aviv. While some applaud the move as a necessary step to restore focus in classrooms, others express concern about managing emergencies and maintaining communication between students and parents.
City officials are expected to provide further details on the implementation and potential exceptions to the ban in the coming weeks.
As Tel Aviv prepares for the ban’s rollout in September, the city’s schools may soon serve as a model for other municipalities grappling with the growing influence of smartphones on young minds.