Tasmanian schools are tightening mobile phone rules after a Department of Education, Children and Young People policy change removed the option for students to keep phones switched off on their person during the school day.
Devices must now be stored away from students, typically in a school office or secure location, rather than in bags or pockets.
Tasmania introduced its mobile phone policy in 2020, making it one of the first states to restrict phone use in classrooms.
A DECYP spokesperson said the updated policy no longer allows “students to keep devices switched off on their person throughout the day.”
“Under the policy, subject to some exemptions such as health conditions or need for learning support, principals must implement restrictions on the use of mobile phones during school hours for all students,” the spokesperson told Pulse.
The department is working to provide further guidance to schools, with principals responsible for implementing the policy alongside their local school associations.
Schools are putting the changes into practice.
Rosebery District School, north of Queenstown, sent a letter to families on August 11 outlining its approach.
Each classroom now has a lock box with named envelopes for students to hand in all devices – including phones, earbuds and headphones – by 9am.
An adult collects the boxes and stores them securely in the front office until 2:40pm.
The school said smartwatches may still be worn but must be on aeroplane mode.
“Students who choose not to comply with this will be managed through the existing behaviour policy, as they have been previously,” the letter said.
Waverley Primary School in Launceston also updated families, noting the school had reviewed its policy to reflect the newer requirements.
“All schools are required to ensure their local mobile phone policy aligns with DECYP’s Use of Mobile Phones by Students at School Policy, which requires mobile phones to be stored in the school office during the school day,” the school said.
Both schools acknowledged that many students bring phones for use before and after hours and said the goal is not to prevent that.
