The city of Ibague has set a precedent in Colombia’s education system by becoming the first to ban the use of cellphones in public schools. The measure, approved by the Municipal Council, is primarily aimed at students under the age of 14 and seeks to transform school environments into spaces more focused on learning, coexistence, and emotional well-being.
The decision comes amid a growing national debate over the impact of excessive mobile device use in classrooms, a phenomenon that experts have identified as one of the main causes of distraction and declining academic performance.
Details on the new measure that restricts cellphone use in Ibague
The new regulation establishes that cellphones and tablets may not be used during the school day, including both classes and recess. However, the rule includes specific exceptions, such as teacher-authorized educational activities, health or disability situations, and family emergencies.
Additionally, the implementation will not be immediate. Educational institutions will have a one-year transition period to adjust their school policies and define appropriate mechanisms for storing devices during school hours.
The main goal of this policy is to reduce classroom distractions and improve students’ attention. Various studies have shown that constant cellphone use in class affects concentration, lowers academic performance, and limits social interaction among students.
This is compounded by issues such as cyberbullying, which finds a direct channel through mobile devices within schools, as well as mental health effects like anxiety and technological dependency. With this measure, local authorities aim to mitigate these risks and promote safer, more balanced learning environments.
At the same time, a legislative initiative is advancing in Colombia to address the issue from a national perspective. This is Bill 542 of 2026, known as the “Law Against Digital Addiction,” introduced by Representative Olga Lucía Velásquez Nieto. Currently under review in Congress, the bill does not propose an outright ban but rather a strict regulation of cellphone use in both public and private educational institutions, with the aim of protecting mental health and encouraging responsible technology habits.
Unlike the case of Ibague, which establishes a direct restriction for students under 14, the national proposal seeks to set general guidelines for all educational levels, promoting a controlled and educational use of technology. This initiative reflects that the country is not aiming to completely eliminate devices, but rather to strike a balance between their benefits and risks.
A global debate with positive results
Although Ibague is a pioneer in Colombia in adopting an official restriction at the municipal level, the discussion about cellphone use in schools is not new. In cities like Bogotá, some institutions had already implemented similar measures voluntarily, though without widespread scope.
Internationally, several countries have adopted policies to limit or ban the use of mobile devices in school settings. A notable example is France, where a nationwide ban has been in place since 2018 and has been strengthened in recent years.
The results of these policies have been widely documented by organizations such as UNESCO and the OECD. According to their analyses, restricting cellphone use in schools helps improve academic performance, especially among lower-performing students, and promotes greater classroom concentration.
Likewise, countries such as the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Spain have reported a significant decrease in cyberbullying and improved school coexistence after implementing these measures.
Emotional well-being has also shown improvement. Reduced screen time has helped lower anxiety levels and encouraged greater participation in physical and recreational activities.