A conflict is brewing in Madrid between the regional government and a network of Catholic educational institutions. The cause is the authorities’ decision to impose a complete ban on the individual use of electronic devices in classrooms for children under 12. The new rules are set to take effect at the start of the 2025–2026 academic year, already sparking outrage among teachers and parents.
The core of the reform is a total ban on tablets, laptops, and smartphones during lessons in kindergartens and primary schools. From now on, students will only be allowed to use digital devices for strictly limited periods and exclusively under teacher supervision. For the youngest children—up to three years old—contact with gadgets is prohibited altogether. In the upper primary grades, device use is capped at two hours per week, while in secondary schools, each administration is free to set its own policy regarding technology in the classroom.
Catholic schools, united in a federation, argue that these measures infringe on their right to independently shape their educational programs. They say the ban contradicts the principles of freedom of choice and diversity promoted by the region. The school leadership insists that parents should be able to decide how their children are taught, rather than being forced to follow a single rigid approach.
Madrid authorities justify the new measures as a return to traditional methods—paper textbooks, notebooks, and handwriting. Officials emphasize that digital skills are not being abandoned, but their development should be gradual and age-appropriate. Exceptions are provided for children with special educational needs, as well as for schools that have already implemented individual digital programs—they are granted a reprieve until the end of summer 2026.
The court case is set to become a precedent for the entire country. If Catholic schools manage to defend their position, it could influence the approach to digitalization in education not only in Madrid, but also in other regions of Spain. For now, thousands of families and educators await the court’s decision, fearing that the new rules may limit opportunities for children to develop modern skills.
