Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies is examining Tuesday a bill restricting the use of cellphones and electronic devices in public and subsidized private schools. Introduced by Representative José Rodríguez, the proposal prohibits students from using devices such as smartphones, smartwatches, tablets and wireless earbuds inside school grounds at any time or under any circumstances.
The text approved by the Senate includes exceptions for three specific situations: medical or security emergencies with institutional authorization; educational purposes planned in advance by the teacher and carried out under direct supervision; and accessibility for students with disabilities who need the devices as educational support. The rule also extends the ban to adults involved in educational processes, according to their roles within the institutions.
If it is not put to a vote today, the bill will take effect automatically on Friday, the 25th, because of the constructive-sanction mechanism provided for under Paraguayan law. To reject the changes made by senators, the Chamber needs an absolute majority of 41 votes; otherwise, a simple majority is enough to approve the current text.
Education and Sciences Minister Luis Ramírez publicly backed the initiative, describing it as an international model for technology regulation in schools. In an interview with broadcaster ABC TV, Ramírez said the law seeks to organize the presence of technology to protect learning without eliminating screens entirely. He emphasized that the main focus is suspending access to social media during the school day.
Ramírez stressed that each educational community will have autonomy to define internal rules, usage limits and sanctions, adapting them to age groups and local needs. The minister cited the Jóvenes Conectados program, which trains 33,000 students using their own cellphones, as an example of successful educational use that will not be harmed by the new regulations. He said the priority is to consolidate basic skills such as reading, mathematics and critical thinking before fully integrating advanced digital tools.