Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has ordered a three-month study to examine the possibility of restricting schoolchildren's use of smartphones and social media, Asiaplus.tj reported.
Speaking on August 31 at the start of the school year, Rahmon stated that children's unsupervised internet use is a concern and can negatively impact sleep, memory, speech, learning, and physical development. The ministries of education, digital technology, and vocational education have been instructed to prepare relevant proposals.
For Tajikistan, this issue is particularly relevant given the ongoing digitalization of education. The government is striving to expand the use of modern technologies while simultaneously fostering a culture of internet use, social media, and artificial intelligence among young people. Therefore, the focus is not on completely banning smartphones, but on finding a regulated model for their use.
Similar processes are already underway in neighboring countries. In Kazakhstan, uniform requirements will be introduced starting in the new school year: smartphone use is prohibited during lessons, unless the device is needed for an assignment. However, a complete ban on bringing phones to school is not envisaged.
In Uzbekistan, restrictions are in place on the use of phones in schools, and in June 2026, authorities also announced they were considering possible age restrictions on access to social media for children under 16.
In Kyrgyzstan, non-essential phone use during school hours is also restricted, and authorities are considering organizational measures, including storing devices in special lockers.
Thus, Dushanbe's initiative reflects a broader regional trend. According to UNESCO, by March 2026, national restrictions on mobile phones were already in place in 114 education systems worldwide.
The main challenge for states now lies not so much in the smartphone itself, but in how to combine the digital technologies necessary for modern education with the protection of children's attention, health, and psychological well-being.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
August 31, 2026