Mobile phones will be banned from all Victorian public schools from next year. The policy is for primary and secondary campuses, with students having to turn their phones off and be kept in their lockers for the school day. Exemptions will be made for students who use their phones to monitor health conditions. The move aims to tackle cyber bullying and increase learning outcomes.

Students at Victorian public schools will no longer be able to use their mobile phones during school hours.

The move will be enforced next year and follows Education Minister James Merlino’s push to end cyber-bullying and reduce classroom distraction.

“This will remove a major distraction from our classrooms so that teachers can teach and students can learn in a more focused, positive and supported environment,” Mr Merino said in a statement.

“Half of all young people have experienced cyber-bullying. By banning mobiles we can stop it at the school gate.”

RELATED: Smart phones causing young children to grow horns

‘TOO PROHIBITIVE FOR OLDER STUDENTS’

Sue Bell, president of the Victorian Association of State Secondary Schools, told 3AW’s Ross and John the ban could be too prohibitive for older students.

She said they use technology sensibly for calendars and other life management purposes that prepare them for the real world.

She isn’t fully against the ban but said it is “partially” a good idea.

“For young kids yes, they’re not emotionally or socially ready, but for senior students they use them as a tool just like any other adults does,” she said on the program this morning.

“It’s a shame to take away the right of individual schools to work out what it is they’re going to do. It will only work if students are involved in coming up with a solution.”

BACKLASH OVER THE BAN

While many support the move, saying “it’s about bloody time” and “the right thing to do”, others including teachers and parents have vented their frustration and stance against it.

“As a teacher I don’t agree with this move. Phones can be a very handy pedagogical tool, and they need to learn how to use them in a safe manner,” one woman said in a Facebook post on the ban.

“This is a shortsighted reactionary step that will ultimately do nothing to prevent cyber-bullying.”

Another Facebook user described the ban as “total ignorance” from the State Government, saying “there are many state schools in Victoria that uses the smartphone as an educational aid and communication tool between the students and the school”.

A mother-of-two also agreed, adding her two girls who are in high school rely on their phones for study schedules and school and exam timetables.

“Pretty much everything is online, which is why they have their phones and data at school,” she said.

While another branded it “idiotic”, saying “mobile phones have been around our kids environments for a while now, it’s something they use as a tool on a daily basis”.

Students will be forced to switch off their phones and store them in lockers until the final bell — and in the case of an emergency, parents or guardians can reach their child by calling the school.

The only exceptions to the ban will be where students use phones to monitor health conditions, or where teachers instruct students to bring their phone for a particular classroom activity.

SUPPORT FOR THE BAN

Despite the backlash against the state government’s move, many have jumped on-board in support, saying kids have “zero need for phones during class time”.

“I find it mind blowing that this is even an issue. Isn’t school a place for an education not socialising?” one person asked on Facebook.

“Why do students need phones at schools? Last time I checked if there an emergency the office got called the msg got pasted on to the student,” said another.

Others simply said it is “about time” as students should be giving teachers their undivided attention.

According to a poll conducted by News.com.au — 75 per cent of people agree phones should be banned at every public school across Australia. It is based on 618 votes.

‘MOBILE PHONES ENABLE CYBER-BULLYING’

Mr Merlino said schools embraced technology in the classroom and the Government wanted kids to be digitally literate, but mobile phones “enable” cyber-bullying.

He explained teachers were constantly asking kids to put their phones away, and he called the decision to ban them during school hours, including lunch and recess, “common sense”.

He said teachers wanted kids talking to each other in the schoolyard, not checking their phones, the ABC reported.

“Teachers are constantly asking kids to put their phones away. This is common sense. It’s not going to (absolutely) resolve cyber-bullying, but it will make a big difference,” he said.

“We cannot stamp it out. It is going to occur.

“But we can take some real steps to reduce the level of bullying.”

In February 2018, ahead of the November state election, the Liberals announced a policy of banning students from using phones in classrooms.

At the time the Andrews government said bans were the decision of individual schools.

“I guess policy imitation is the greatest form of flattery,” former Liberal leader Matthew Guy tweeted on Tuesday night.

A number of private schools have already banned the use of phones, and McKinnon Secondary School, a government school in Melbourne’s bayside, has enforced a ban since last year.

Principal Pitsa Binnion told the ABC she believed students at the school had become more entrenched in their studies as a result.

“Our students are more focused learners in the classroom without this distraction,” she said.