Students in Nova Scotia will have to leave their phones tucked away when classes start again in the fall after the province announced a new policy to limit the use of the devices.
The government said there will be exceptions to the rules, such as when teachers allow phones for instructional purposes.
Minister of Education Becky Druhan said the policy was informed by what the government was hearing from students, school staff, families, and communities.
“We heard their concerns and, through this new directive, are ensuring students are concentrating on learning and building stronger interpersonal relationships without the distraction of cell phones,” Ms. Druhan said.
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development consulted with school advisory councils, ministerial advisory councils, the Public School Administrators of Nova Scotia, and the province’s teachers union about the use of cell phones in schools. They also talked with principals, teachers, and public health experts.
Around 800 school advisory council members participated in a virtual town hall, according to the release.
“Responses overwhelmingly supported clear, consistent restrictions on cell phone use,” the release said.
Other Provincial Cell Phone Policies
Other provinces have also restricted the use of cell phones during school hours, including Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia.Ontario’s Education Minister, Stephen Lecce, announced the changes in April, saying they will be limiting the use of devices during teaching time.
Under the new policy, students from kindergarten to Grade 6 will need to have their phones set to silent and out of sight for the whole school day, unless they have been given permission to use it.
Students in Grades 7 to 12 will not be allowed to use cell phones during class time. If they are caught violating the rules, the device will need to be surrendered. Students who refuse will be sent to the principal’s office, and possibly suspended.
“By learning in a safe school environment how to use their cellphones responsibly and respectfully, including when to put them away, students will be better able to develop healthy habits around technology and social media use in their everyday lives,” Education Minister Rachna Singh said.