The government is developing a school mobile phone policy which looks to ban the use of mobile phones in schools.
Education Minister Daphne Caine gave an update on the policy in the House of Keys following a question from Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Jason Moorhouse.
The policy, which extends to primary schools as well as secondary schools and to staff, is to make sure phones are switched off and stored away during the school day.
Consultation
Minister Caine told the House of Keys that the policy went to head teachers and trade unions for consultation on September 4.
The consultation lasted six weeks and the results are currently being “considered”.
Once finalised, the department’s policy will be made available and will be “communicated with parents, carers and students”.
The Department of Education, School and Culture hopes to implement the policy during the autumn term.
Ban on Phones
The Minister said: “We have had many, many bits of feedback, particularly when we undertook the public consultation on the Education Amendment Bill, when the majority of respondents, 55 per cent, thought that mobile phones should be banned throughout the entire school day.
“Obviously, there are medical exceptions and other things that will be part of that policy.”
The policy is aiming to address some of the challenges that are posed by the use of mobile phones in schools, such as lesson disruption, bullying, damage to devices and inappropriate use.
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