Belarus Bans Phones in Schools, Sparking ‘Sovietization’ Fears

As the new academic year begins on September 1, Belarusian schools are implementing a sweeping ban on mobile phones for both students and teachers. Students will be required to surrender their devices upon entering the school, where they will be kept in special locked compartments until the end of the day. The new regulations also significantly restrict parental access, transforming educational institutions into more securitized environments.

While the ban is comprehensive, officials have outlined specific exceptions. Minister of Education Andrei Ivanets clarified that students with documented medical needs, such as those requiring blood sugar monitoring, will be permitted to use their devices. Similarly, tablets with e-textbooks but no internet or mobile connection can be used by students with medical conditions, like musculoskeletal problems, that prevent them from carrying heavy backpacks. Teachers are also expected to refrain from using their phones during lessons to set an example, though their devices will not be confiscated to ensure they have access to emergency communication.

In addition to the digital lockdown, new security measures will limit parents’ access to school premises. Visits will now require a prior appointment with a teacher and the presentation of a passport or other form of identification at the security post. Officials frame this as a necessary step to ensure a safe and secure environment for students throughout the school day.

State-affiliated educators have publicly lauded the changes. Natalya Litvinova, a school director in Gomel, told the state news agency BelTA that the new rules are “infinitely pleasing,” “progressive,” and will benefit the quality of education, making schools “even more patriotic and technological.” Another teacher expressed confidence that students would now communicate more with each other and read more, eventually realizing that “life is more interesting without a phone.”

However, these measures have drawn sharp criticism from opposition figures and independent experts, who see them as a sign of systemic regression. Political scientist Roza Turarbekova described the developments in the education system as “degradation” and “re-Sovietization,” pointing to a broader trend of increased ideologization, militarization, and securitization in schools and even kindergartens.

Critics note that some changes go beyond replicating Soviet-era practices. Turarbekova highlighted the introduction of specialized military classes from the ninth grade and mandatory 10-day military training camps for minors. “This did not exist in Soviet schools; it is a new invention,” she remarked. The ideological direction is further underscored by the official theme for the first lesson of the year: “A Relay of Generations: Preserving the Past, Creating the Future.”