PHONE use could be limited or banned in schools in future, the Education Minister has indicated.
In the States yesterday, Deputy Rob Ward said there was “ongoing consideration” of a potential blanket ban following the introduction of a similar law in France.
But Deputy Ward stressed that most Jersey secondary schools already have strict phone policies in place and many have been “phone-free” during the school day for years.
While not ruling out an overall ban, the Education Minister explained that policies could be introduced to limit rather than prohibit phones to prepare students for “responsible technology use” in future.
However, he added that results from an upcoming Children and Young People’s Survey would guide any future policy changes.
The survey will poll students in Years 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 this October, with findings due to be published in March 2025.
Deputy Ward said that students spent about 15% of their time in school, and called for schools, parents, and students to work together on appropriate phone use and safety for the remaining 85% of the time.
Several politicians also raised questions about balancing phone use as an educational tool for revision and home learning versus the potential for overuse, addiction and distraction.
Deputy Ward said these were “new issues” that required guidance on recommended screen times. He added: “We are in a world of exponential growth in what’s available on smartphones and we need to…educate and inform parents on the use of those apps. We all are in this delicate balance.”
