Sask. gov't introducing province wide cellphone ban for all schools

The Saskatchewan government says it is introducing measures to ban cellphone use in schools during class time beginning in the 2024-25 school year.

The ban will be for all schools in the province and will affect Kindergarten to Grade 12 students.

"You know, technology certainly has its place. We all use it every single day. It’s not like kids don’t have cellphones but when we're in school, when we’re in the classroom, we want that to be as productive of a learning environment as possible," Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill told reporters Tuesday.

For Grade 9 to Grade 12, the province says teachers will be able to seek an exemption from administration to allow cell phone use by students during class time when needed for a specific instructional purpose.

According to the province, students that need to have access to a cellphone during class time for medical or specific learning needs will need an exemption from the school division they are in.

"Each school division has procedures and the responsibility to communicate with students and parents in any case of emergency," the province said in the announcement, adding that safety of students and staff continues to be an important priority.

Minister Cockrill was at an initial site preparation ceremony for a new joint use elementary school in Regina’s Harbour Landing neighbourhood on Tuesday. School board chairs were also in attendance.

"So we have not had time to consult with our boards and we have no official position right now," Regina Board of Education Chair Sarah Cummings Truszkowski told CTV News.

"We do have no comment about our stance on it as we have no ideas what entirely it entails," Regina Catholic Schools Chair Shauna Weninger said, echoing her opposite number. "We do have administrative application in place already within our division and so do many of the other divisions so how closely it aligns to what’s already in place will be interesting to see."

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The province said that by introducing the measures it is joining several other provinces like B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Quebec that have the same or a similar initiative in place for the fall of 2024.

The Saskatchewan NDP agreed with the move; saying in its response: "Cellphones have certaintly become a distraction in classrooms."

Parent Hidesh Lakhwani attended the ceremony in Harbour Landing. He also agreed with the move.

"I think it’s good because that will be less interruption in their studies so it will be great."

The province will now let school boards decide how best to handle implementation but the cellphone ban will take effect when classes resume for the fall.