No post-primary phone ban — but schools will be asked to help restrict their use
Post-primary schools may decide what approach works best when it comes to restricting phone usage, be it through phone pouches, lock boxes, lockers, or drop-off and collection. Stock picture
The Department of Education has stopped short of an outright ban on smartphones for post-primary students, asking schools instead to work on restricting their use.
However, all primary schools will implement new policies that ban the use of, and access to, smartphones during the school day.
The direction to schools comes as part of national guidance on phone use issued by Helen McEntee, the education minister.
Under the guidance, schools must develop these policies in consultation with students, their parents, and staff.
Post-primary schools may decide what approach works best when it comes to restricting phone usage, be it through phone pouches, lock boxes, lockers, or drop-off and collection.
The announcement of €9m for phone pouches to ban the use of smartphones proved to be one of the most contentious measures announced by previous minister Norma Foley during last October’s budget.
At the time the measure was described as a “new wellbeing initiative designed to support schools to implement bans on the use of mobile phones”.
That €9m funding pot is still available now to schools if they decide to implement storage such as pouches or lock boxes as part of their policies.
The policy is about ensuring schools are “phone-free” learning environments, according to Ms McEntee.
“Students should not be on their phones during the school day,” said Ms McEntee. “This guidance and support will ensure all schools have the supports they need to achieve this, having regard to their own requirements.
The funding will allow for schools to decide what solution "works best for their school community and their students", she added.
Earlier this week, it emerged that the Department of Education was to re-tender for a central contract to supply mobile phone pouches in the coming weeks.
A tender for the central provision of the pouches was first published in January. However, last week the department of education issued a notice that despite receiving 12 tenders, the competition was to be cancelled without a winner.
In the Dáil on Thursday, Tánaiste Simon Harris said this will be a "pragmatic and sensible way to proceed".
"I think it will be welcomed by school principals, teachers, boards of management, and I believe, young people, in many cases," he said.
"We need to build on this. We need to look at what more we need to do to allow our children be children and to allow them to learn and be educated in a safe environment, with the sounds of young people laughing and talking to each other, rather than doomscrolling on their phones during the day."
