The ban comes after consultation with the school community, but principals and teachers will be able to authorise the use of mobile phones for educational purposes, or as part of a reasonable adjustment for student learning and wellbeing – such as monitoring blood sugar levels for students with diabetes.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning, Prue Car, said the ban would ensure students were not distracted by mobile phones at school.
“Phones in all NSW public high schools must be turned off and out of sight during the school day – including at recess and lunch,” she said.
“This ban creates a level playing field across all NSW public schools and means students can focus on what’s most important – learning in the classroom.
“It will help to provide more productive classrooms for students and teachers, reducing opportunities for distraction and cyberbullying.
“What we’ve heard from schools that already have bans in place, gives me real confidence that this common sense measure will improve student learning and social development outcomes.”
The NSW Department of Education offered schools several options for implementing the mobile phone ban and following consultation with their local communities, most have opted for zero or low-cost solutions, such as keeping phones in lockers or off and away.
It will be up to individual schools to determine how they enforce the ban and respond to any breaches.
No phone at school now
HIGH school students have turned their mobile phones off and will keep them out of sight, with a ban on their use at school now in force.
