Quebec committee recommends full ban on cellphones, electronic devices at schools
Education Minister Bernard Drainville welcomes suggestion
A special provincial committee is recommending that Quebec fully ban cellphones, headphones and other personal electronic devices in all primary and secondary schools starting next school year.
This was the sole recommendation in the committee's 15-page interim report, released Tuesday. The committee, which includes elected officials from the four parties represented in the National Assembly, was established in June 2024 by the Quebec government to examine how screens and social media affect the health and development of young people.
The interim report presents preliminary findings based on consultations with experts, educators, parents and students.
The committee is recommending that Quebec prohibit the use of cellphones by the start of the 2025-26 academic year for the entire school day on all school grounds, including outdoor areas.
The report says there may be specific exceptions when device use is necessary, particularly when a student's medical condition justifies it, for educational purposes set by teachers or to accommodate the needs of students with disabilities or learning difficulties.
Quebec has already banned cellphones in classrooms, joining a growing list of provinces with similar policies. That measure took effect on Jan. 1, 2024.
Education Minister Bernard Drainville expressed interest in a complete ban on cellphones and electronic devices back in January.
Following the tabling of the report in the National Assembly on Tuesday, Drainville said he welcomed it "with great interest and openness," noting that many schools have already implemented rules restricting devices named in the report.
"The decision will be made quickly because students, parents, schools and staff need clarity ahead of the next school year," he said.
However, Québec Solidaire is urging the minister to delay the implementation of the proposed ban.
"We are in favour of a total ban on cellphones in schools, but for it to be successful, it must not be rushed at the start of the 2025 school year," said MNA Alexandre Leduc in a statement.
The committee's final report, which will include all of its recommendations, is expected by May 30. It will explore several areas of the digital landscape for young people:
- The amount of time young people spend on screens.
- Supervision measures at school and online.
- Access to social media and video games.
- Cyberbullying and explicit content.
- Minors' access to pornography.
- Addictive features in apps.
- Advertising targeted at children.
Provincial cellphone regulations in schools of varying degree have been cropping up across the country, but not without concern.
"A lot of teachers welcome that there will be fewer distractions in the classroom, but many teachers are worried about the policing of it falling on them," Joel Westheimer, a professor of democracy and education at the University of Ottawa, told CBC News last summer.
He said many teachers are worried about the realities of enforcing rules on cellphone use which is both pervasive and addictive.
Written by Isaac Olson with files from Radio-Canada