Opposition says loopholes in high school phone ban means it is doomed to fail

The state government “ban” on mobile phones in high schools is set to fail, the opposition says, pointing to a clause saying staff have ‘no lawful authority’ to confiscate them. Take our poll.

The opposition says a state government ‘ban’ on mobile phones in schools will be ineffective, as its policy says staff have “no lawful authority” to confiscate them.

But the government says the policy will work because students who refuse to comply with teachers’ directions could face disciplinary action, similar to the way other school rules are enforced.

Labor took its high school phone ban pledge to the state election last year.

Since then, the issue has taken on even greater importance in light of students using phones to record vicious fights.

The opposition says the policy has been foisted on principals and parents at the last minute before Term 1 starts next week, while the government says there has been extensive consultation.

Liberal education spokesman John Gardner said the policy had many loopholes – with the word “ban” dropped altogether.

“Exemptions to the policy run for several pages and include an option for schools to allow individual students to get approval from their teacher for non-educational use,’’ he said.

Screen grab from a video of a fight between students at Golden Grove High School. Picture: Supplied

“No funding has been provided for schools to securely store devices, with options suggested to schools including that students store their phones ‘in the student’s school bag’, or a ‘locked cupboard in the classroom or front office’,’’ Mr Gardner said.

“Remarkably, after all that time and despite all that tough talk, Peter Malinauskas has produced a policy that doesn’t ban phones from schools, that doesn’t ban phones from classrooms, and doesn’t give schools any support to reduce the use of phones in school settings compared to what was in place before.”

The government disputed the funding claim, saying schools needing help were in discussions with the Education Department.

Education Minister Blair Boyer said the criticisms were “smoke and mirrors” because the Liberal Party had failed to introduce a high school ban when in government.

“Mobile phones will be banned in schools,’’ Mr Boyer said.

“Teachers will have the option to give exemptions, if need be, so they can meet the needs of their own individual classrooms.”

“From the start of the second semester (after a transition period in first semester), all secondary students will be required to keep their devices off and away while at school or on school excursions, within the specific rules developed by each school.”

But Mr Gardner pointed to lines in the policy that stated confiscation of phones was not allowed.

“There is no lawful authority for school staff to use force to confiscate a device from a student. Where a student refuses to comply with a staff member’s request to hand over their device, this is also managed in line with the school’s behaviour support policy and escalating responses,” it says.

Golden Grove High School was hit by a string of filmed fights during 2022 and became known as “Fight School”.