ISTANBUL 

Poland will ban cellphone use for minors under 16 in the nation’s schools, the education minister announced Wednesday.

"We are currently finalizing work on a major legislative change, crucial for schools, which will result in a ban on mobile phone use in primary schools from September 1, 2026," Barbara Nowacka told reporters, according to public broadcaster TVP World.

She said that using phones in school "cannot be the norm because we see how dependent children are on the internet."

The move comes amid similar measures in countries worldwide, including restrictions on cellphones in schools and on the use of social media use for minors.