Sask. moves to restrict cellphone use in all K-12 schools
Cellphones will no longer be permitted during class time, according to the Ministry of Education
Saskatchewan will introduce new rules restricting the use of cellphones in the province's schools for the upcoming 2024-25 school year.
The new policy means cellphones will not be permitted during class time and it will apply to all schools in the province from kindergarten to Grade 12.
"There's classrooms that I've been in in over the last year where this is already in place — cellphones are not allowed — and what this is doing is providing a consistent approach across the province," said Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill on Tuesday.
He said the change puts Saskatchewan in line with other provinces. Ontario and Alberta have recently announced their own cellphone restrictions for schools, to come into effect at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year.
Cockrill said the new policy will allow students to be more engaged with their teachers and be more focused on learning.
Not everyone is welcoming the new policy.
Samantha Becotte, president of the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation, said the announcement isn't a surprise, but it's not going to solve the larger problems in the province's schools, such as classroom complexity and underfunding.
"Unfortunately, in our schools we don't have nearly enough technology to support students in some of their learning activities, and so cellphones and personal devices are often used to fill the gaps," Becotte said.
Becotte said the STF was not consulted on the change before Tuesday's announcement.
Exemptions possible
For grades 9 to 12, teachers will be able to seek an exemption from school administrators, according to the province. That will allow cellphone use during class when needed for a specific instructional purpose.
If there is an ongoing requirement for mobile device as a result of medical or learning needs, school divisions will provide exemptions.
"Obviously there's going to be exemptions, certainly for medical situations as one example, but at the end of the day, when our kids are in the classroom in Saskatchewan, we want as much of their time and energy and focus [as possible] to be on their teachers and to be on learning," Cockrill said.
The Ministry of Education says each school division has procedures and the responsibility to communicate with students and parents in any case of emergency.
Breadth of consultation unclear
"This is really about the feedback that we've received from parents and teachers that cellphones do cause distractions in the classroom," said Cockrill.
Cockrill declined to specify how many people and organizations had been consulted about the ban, but confirmed there were discussions with the Saskatchewan School Board Association.
Sarah Cummings Truskowski, board chair of Regina Public Schools, and Shauna Weninger, board chair of Regina Catholic Schools, were at the same event as Cockrill on Tuesday.
They both confirmed that the Ministry of Education had asked for their organizations' input about a potential ban earlier in the year.
However, they declined to comment further, as they both found out about the policy when it was announced Tuesday morning.
"We have not had time to consult with our boards and we have no official position right now," Truskowski said.
Cockrill said it will be up to each school board to decide how to enforce the cellphone ban.
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