“Away for the day”: statewide school mobile phone ban
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 128, 25 August 2023, page no.6
Education Minister Grace Grace has announced mobile phones and certain wearable electronic devices like smartwatches will be banned at all Queensland state schools during school hours – including break times – from Term 1, 2024.
The vast majority of schools already have a school-based student mobile phone ban in place, most as classroom bans, but not all extend into the break times.
QTU members have been calling for a centralised resourcing and policy model to implement a statewide ban of mobile phone use across Queensland state schools, so would welcome the Education Minister’s announcement, which was made in early July.
Member responses to the QTU survey conducted in early Term 2 showed strong agreement that “mobile phones should be banned from schools”.
The QTU is consulting with the department over the development of resources and support for the updating of existing policies, as well as on assurances that the department will work with schools around the state to implement the ban on the basis of their context and local needs. Currently, schools across the state have varied approaches, from procedures to investment in pouches and other physical solutions.
The department will consult with the QTU on the policy and guidelines surrounding the ban. More information will be provided in Term 4.