Alberta Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides says the province is moving to ban cellphones in kindergarten to Grade 12 classrooms starting in the fall. Nicolaides is sworn into cabinet, in Edmonton, Friday, June 9, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson.
CALGARY - Starting this fall, Alberta will prohibit cellphones in kindergarten to Grade 12 classrooms.
Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides announced on Monday that while cellphones can aid learning, they often serve as distractions and can contribute to cyberbullying. Exceptions will be made for students who need phones for health purposes, such as monitoring blood sugar levels, or for specific learning requirements.
Apart from these exceptions, students will be required to keep personal devices turned off and out of sight during class. Additionally, school internet networks will restrict access to social media, Nicolaides said.
Previously, Alberta allowed individual school boards to set their own rules regarding cellphone use, leading to inconsistent policies. Concerns from teachers and parents about the disruptive impact of phones prompted the government to take action.
"The risks to students' mental well-being and academic success are real, and we must take steps now to combat these effects," Nicolaides emphasized.
Alberta joins Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia in implementing or announcing similar cellphone restrictions in schools.
A survey conducted by the Alberta government included over 68,000 parents, teachers, students, and principals, with about 90% expressing concerns about cellphone use in schools and advocating for limitations.
School boards will be responsible for implementing and enforcing the new rules, ensuring they align with provincial standards. Nicolaides advised parents and guardians to stay informed through their local school authorities for further details.
In May, the Alberta Teachers' Association members voted to support restricting smartphones in classrooms during instructional time. President Jason Schilling welcomed this initiative but noted that further details are needed regarding the implementation and support for teachers and school leaders.
Two major provincial organizations also supported the change. Kerry Bodell, president of the Alberta School Councils' Association, said that setting standards for mobile device use, while acknowledging exceptions and school authority autonomy, will help maintain a focus on learning. Andrea Holowka, president of the College of Alberta School Superintendents, appreciated the practical approach of allowing school authorities the flexibility to meet students' unique learning needs within a regulatory framework.
Opposition NDP education critic Amanda Chapman expressed cautious optimism that the new policy will strike a balance between learning and access to technology. However, she highlighted the absence of a government commitment to teaching digital literacy.
