At the initiative of the Mayor of Yerevan, smartphones and other electronic devices have been banned in 143 of the city’s 151 community schools. The restriction has been formally embedded in the institutions’ internal disciplinary regulations.
Similar initiatives have proven their effectiveness in other countries for years. Research indicates that limiting mobile phone use during lessons can raise student performance by an average of 6–14%. Studies also show that having a phone nearby, even when it isn’t being used, distracts students, while restrictions help them stay focused for longer periods.
Smart devices may be used only for educational purposes and only at the teacher’s instruction, such as to access QR codes in textbooks.