Victorian school phone ban nears as storage plans are called up

Victoria’s public schools will next year ban students from using mobile phones during school hours, in a bid to reduce distractions and tackle cyber-bullying — but how will it work? Find out here.

A ban on state students using mobile phones during school hours next year will see $12.4 million put on the table for new secure storage facilities.

Deputy Premier and Education Minister James Merlino unveiled the new spending in Hawthorn today, saying the phone phase-out was an important tool in tackling cyber-bullying and reducing classroom distractions.

The policy will kick in across all public schools from Term 1, when students will be encouraged to leave their phones at home or will have to switch them off and store them before the morning bells.

Schools will have to apply for money for storage facilities, which could include secure boxes in home rooms, upgraded lockers, or new padlocks for existing lockers.

All Victorian public schools will ban students from having mobile phones from the first bell to the last, as of term one next year. Picture: Jason Edwards

Mr Merlino said other options were lockable pouches and that similar technology was being used interstate and overseas.

“We are making sure each school has the secure storage facilities that suit their needs ahead of the mobile phone ban starting in Term 1 next year,” he said.

“Banning mobile phones during school hours will not only mean students focus more on learning, it will also help kids interact more in the schoolyard and reduce cyber-bullying.”

He said teachers were also wasting time trying to ensure there were no distractions in classrooms during class time.

Auburn High principal Maria Karvouni said parents and teachers had led the drive to ban phones from “the first bell to the last” but that students had also been on board once they were given data about the issues and the rationale.

“Close to 70 per cent of students said that at least every lesson there is some distraction through someone with a mobile phone,” she said.

Auburn High School principal Maria Karvouni.

“I have noticed a very big difference. What (students) have noticed is that when they finished a task they would have just checked their phones, or something like that, but now that it’s not there they might check in with the teacher or discuss something.”

Ms Karvouni said VCE students were working together on tasks, and there was greater collaboration across the board.

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The government expects fewer students to bring phones to primary schools, but says storage cupboards could be built to store the devices that are brought on to properties.

Exceptions will be made for students who use phones to monitor health issues, while teachers who want to use phones for a specific lesson will also be able to waive the rules.

Mr Merlino said when there were emergencies parents could call the school.

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