Premier Chris Minns visited Condell Park High School which has successfully banned student mobile phones for 16 years to announce the ban from Term 4.
A BLANKET ban on mobile phones in high schools would be welcomed by many parents concerned about the impact they were having on their children’s education, said NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning, Prue Car.
She said the ban would help ease the worry for many parents concerned about the impact that devices like smartphones are having on their kids’ learning and mental health.
The ban was announced at Condell Park High School which has successfully banned student mobile phones for 16 years with benefits to student learning and behaviour.
Praising the move, Condell Park High Principal Susie Mobayed said students deposited their phones on trolleys at the start of the school day and picked them up at the end of the day.
“This means teachers and students are focusing on teaching and learning with no interruptions,” she said.
“There’s also no room for cyberbullying, social media or taking photos and videos during the school day. Our approach is strongly supported by our P&C and parents.”
The new Labor State Government has started consultation with schools on options they can use to implement the ban – an election commitment from Premier Chris Minns to improve students’ learning and social development.
The ban on mobile phones will apply during class, recess and lunch times, as is the case in NSW public primary schools. Students will be allowed to carry their phones while travelling to and from school.
A number of high schools have already banned the use of mobile phones at school – requiring phones to be put in lockable pouches, lockers, bags or simply making students hand in their phones at the beginning of the school day.
The Premier said that “it’s time to clear our classrooms of unnecessary distractions and create better environments for learning”.
“I know many parents who are anxious about the pervasiveness of phones and technology in our children’s learning environments,” he said.
