Phones go dark in all South Australian high schools

A ban on mobile phones in South Australian public high schools is in full swing at the start of term three.

The new rules, requiring students to have phones turned off and put away, now apply to all 158 schools with secondary enrolments.

The policy is designed to reduce distractions in the classroom and stop some of the bullying that occurs through social media.

Education Minister Blair Boyer said the new rules delivered on Labor’s election promise.

“This ban is about better academic outcomes for students free from distraction, improved social skills development, and reducing cyberbullying,” he said.

South Australia’s move is being monitored by other states, with NSW to introduce a similar ban in October and Queensland next year.

The concept is also on the national agenda with all education ministers recently agreeing to a national commitment to ban, restrict or manage the use of mobile phones in government schools.

Under SA’s rules, all public high school students must switch their devices off or onto flight mode and put them away during school hours, during break times and on school excursions.

The ban also applies to other devices capable of connecting to the internet including tablets and smartphones but not to technology used for learning.

School principals can approve individual student exemptions in specific circumstances, such as when a phone is needed for health reasons.