Overview
- The Executive published Decreto Supremo N.º 018-2026-MINEDU on Saturday, October 3, 2026, formalizing a national regulation that limits cellphone use during all Educación Básica activities.
- The rule is mandatory for public and private primary and secondary schools and covers alternative and special education programs across the country.
- Schools may set up temporary custody areas for devices and, for serious or repeated breaches, require parents to collect phones; each school must add specific sanctions to its internal rules under criteria of proportionality, graduality and a formative approach.
- The regulation defines four exceptions for use: approved pedagogical activities, overcoming educational barriers, health or disability needs, and emergencies, and it explicitly forbids staff from accessing students’ device content to protect privacy.
- UGELs and regional education directorates will monitor compliance while Minedu and Minsa prepare public campaigns, but officials and school groups warn of practical gaps such as funding for custody spaces, clear local procedures and how sanctions will be applied.