The announcement came during an interview with daily newspaper Il Foglio published Thursday.
The crackdown, which concerns kindergarten, primary and lower secondary schools, extends an existing ban on the non-academic use of smart devices introduced in Italy in 2007.
In reality, the ban was not always enforced.
Valditara told Il Foglio the decision has been made both for educational reasons and because the use of smartphones and tablets can often create tension between students and teachers, sometimes leading to acts of aggression against school staff.
“Defending the teaching staff means defending the principle of delegation and authority that is the foundation not only of the school system but also of the democratic system,” said the minister.
After taking office in 2022, Valditara issued a circulation reiterating the ban on the non-academic use of smartphones in kindergarten and primary schools.
Last year, the UN’s educational, cultural and scientific agency UNESCO recommended that smartphones be banned from schools around the world on grounds they distract students and have a negative impact on learning outcomes.
ANSA
