The final tranche of 27 high schools that will impose mobile phone bans from Monday

SA high schools are cracking down on the use of phones during class time, with another 27 sites forcing students to lock devices away from Monday.

All South Australian high schools must impose a ban on mobile phones from Monday. Picture: iStock

Almost 30 high schools will impose mobile phone bans on campus from Monday as principals report changed cultures and surprise at “bored” teenagers asking for schoolyard activities.

The final tranche of schools will enforce an Education Department edict that bans mobile phones during class hours, including in the yard and on excursions.

The crackdown is already at 131 secondary schools but the last 27 sites will introduce the “off and away” rule from Monday.

Education Minister Blair Boyer on Sunday said while precise data was unavailable, he said there was “hell of a lot of anecdotal” evidence that suggested bans had slashed student violence, bullying and other anti-social behaviour.

He said many schools had reported changed “cultures” with students now talking in the yard, playing sport or pursuing other extra-curricular events.

But some schools leaders, he added, had been left surprised at needing to spend more money on extra-curricular activities for “bored” teenagers.

Mr Boyer, a father of three, said bans were widely acknowledged as “the right thing to do” but conceded universal should have been introduced many years earlier.

He said one of the most powerful bits of feedback he had received was from the Peter Kuss, the principal of embattled Golden Grove High School, near Mr Boyer’s electorate in Adelaide’s North East.

He said his schoolyard “looks like it did in the 1990s” before mobile phones were a common gadget for pupils.

A phone pouch which is used to lock phones during school hours. Picture: Russell Millard

“That’s when I was in high school,” Mr Boyer said. “It was kids out playing sport, talking to each other and involved in extra-curricular activities.

“We’ve actually seen it those schools that are already have the ban in place, teachers and school leadership have realised some more activities need to be put on because kids aren’t using their phones – they’re instead looking for other things to do.

“It’s something I reckon has probably taken us by surprise if I was totally honest with you and it’s taken some school leaders and classroom teachers by surprise, too.”

He added: “I think principals were taken aback by students coming to them saying, ‘we’re bored at recess or lunchtime’ and we want something else to do because we’re not sitting on our phone.

“So that is a positive. But the problem that creates, of course, is making sure that teachers are able to put something else on whether it’s sporting clubs or drama clubs or whatever it might be.”

While there was $510,000 in taxpayer funds available for lockers or special pouches for phones, he said there were no reports of schools needing extra money for specialised events.

Bans are likely to be rolled out across the country, after a meeting of education ministers a fortnight ago agreed to a “national commitment” to crackdown on phones.

Exemptions are available.

Norwood International high school Year 12 student Matilda Jewell, 17, and Year 9 student Reikaya Everwinter, 15, said the bans were excellent although some pupils were upset. Picture Dean Martin

Norwood International high school Year 12 student Matilda Jewell, 17, and Year 9 student Reikaya Everwinter, 15, said the bans were excellent although some pupils were upset.

“It’s quite a change but it is distracting so I’m happy that we’re bringing it in,” Matilda said.

Opposition spokesman John Gardner, a former Education Minister whose government banned mobile phones from all primary schools, called for more schools help and questioned Labor’s sensivity to criticism.

“Since last year, the Opposition has been calling on Labor to provide financial assistance to help schools implement this plan – whether that be helping purchase magnetic pouches or installing lockable lockers,” he said.

“While we’re pleased our calls were met in this year’s State Budget, the funding is less than half of what was spent on Labor’s TV and billboard campaign promoting the plan – and we have concerns it may not go far enough.”

In response Mr Boyer said the Liberals “lost all moral authority on this issue when they put banning mobile phones in high schools in the too hard basket”.

“The last people I’ll be seeking advice from is those that squibbed it,” he added.