School phone ban may be just weeks away, as Education Minister reveals plans for statewide survey

A decision on whether mobile phones should be banned in Queensland schools could be made within weeks, with the government enlisting a former children’s commissioner to investigate the issue.

A decision on whether mobile phones should be banned in Queensland schools could be made within weeks, with the government enlisting a former children’s commissioner to investigate the issue.

Education Minister Grace Grace, after months of the state government holding its ground as one of the last jurisdictions without a mobile phone ban, revealed a statewide survey of schools would be conducted.

The survey would seek to get a picture of how many schools have restrictions on mobile phones and what those restrictions looks like, such as not allowing devices on school grounds or making students switch devices off and store them in their bags.

Former Queensland Family and Children’s Commissioner Cheryl Vardon has been tasked with heading up the evaluation, and is due to report back by end June.

This is in time for Ms Grace to take the policy to the next meeting of Australia’s education ministers — with federal counterpart Jason Clare recently signalling support for Queensland’s call for a national approach to mobile phone bans.

Ms Grace, speaking in parliament on Thursday, said the government was “always happy to have a fresh look at things”.

“And there is legitimate community debate about whether this approach continues to be the best way to go, particularly given the advancement in technology and the issue of distraction,” she said.

“We also need to think about other devices like smart watches.”

Students including Mia Ferguson working at Corinda State High School where they are using YONDR phone locking pouches. Picture: Liam Kidston

She confirmed a draft report by the University of Queensland evaluating the effectiveness of the government’s efforts to combat cyber-bullying was due next month.

In the interim she had tasked the Department of Education with surveying state schools to get “a clear picture of exactly what is happening in our schools regarding the banning of phones”.

“We will take a measured and balanced approach and as always the best interests of our students will be at the heart of what we do,” Ms Grace said.

Queensland is the only Australian state that does not have a blanket ban on mobile phones in schools at this time, though principals have the freedom to choose whether they want to put one in place.

Federal education minister Jason Clare, in a recent ABC Brisbane interview, said the “time had come” for a national approach on phones bans as he pointed to different definitions of what restrictions looked like across the states.

“I think there is a good argument that we should be moving to a national, best-practice approach. I’m intending to put this on the agenda when education ministers meet again in the middle of this year,” he said.

Originally published as School phone ban may be just weeks away, as Education Minister reveals plans for statewide survey