Queensland state school students will be prohibited from using mobile phones and smartwatches when classes commence next year.
Education Minister Grace Grace states that this decision expands upon previous policies, where nearly all state schools had implemented some form of phone ban.
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“This statewide ban will provide uniformity, extend bans to break times, and include certain wearable devices like smartwatches,” she said on Thursday night.
Grace said more than 95 per cent of schools had a clear policy banning phone use during class, with the remaining schools restricting usage informally.
Following the implementation of recommendations from the Anti-Cyberbullying 2018 Taskforce, all state schools have been required to outline how they manage mobile phones.
This includes managing cyberbullying and classroom distractions.
The Queensland government appointed former family and child commissioner Cheryl Vardon to review the current policy, with her report due later this month.
However, she has already recommended implementing statewide restrictions on access to mobile phones and certain other devices during school hours, with the specific implementation varying by school.
For example, a small school in the outback may require students to hand in their phones to a designated staff member, while a larger school with thousands of students may choose to use lockable pouches.
Grace stated that she would continue discussions with other education ministers to establish consistent guidelines across states and territories.
Students will still be allowed to bring their phones to school in order to contact parents or carers immediately before or after school.
Exemptions will also be available in specific circumstances, including for health and wellbeing purposes.
Minister’s statement
“From Term 1, 2024, mobile phones will need to be ‘away for the day’ in all Queensland state schools, building on the excellent work of our principals and school leaders to date,” Grace said.
“Under our existing policy, almost all our state schools have implemented some kind of ban on the use of mobile phones, and they have been fully supported to do so.
“We are always happy to take a fresh look at things: the progression of technology and proliferation of wearable electronic devices meant it was time to do a review, and I thank Ms Vardon for her ongoing work.
“I’ve met with Ms Vardon, and she has made clear recommendations to ban phones and certain wearable devices during school hours, and for an education campaign for families.
“Both of those things will happen, and the campaign will complement the extensive and nation-leading work we already do on cyberbullying.
“As has been the case for many years, principals who want to introduce or update bans before next year can do so.”
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