CARL HAGER
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

QUEBEC – Students are no longer allowed to use cell phones in Quebec public school classrooms except for pedagogical purposes, following a province-wide policy that took effect January 1.

Quebec’s Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, made the initial announcement in August, giving school boards a four-month heads-up. Drainville based his directive on a UNESCO report that found student learning is hindered by cell phone use in classrooms for non-instructional purposes.

Quebec isn’t the first to enact such a prohibition. Ontario did so in 2019 and countries including Great Britain, Portugal, Italy, China, Ireland and the State of Florida are pursuing similar policies.

Policies banning cell phones don’t go far enough, say some. While 92% of teachers in Quebec’s Federation autonome de l’enseignement (FAE) approve of the measure, some believe cellphones should be banned totally on school grounds. Others like Katherine Korakakis, president of the Anglophone Association of Parents, contend that the policy should include studies on issues like the effects dependence on technology and social media have on youths.

Brian Smeltzer, president of the Western Quebec Teachers’ Association, worries school boards may lay enforcement at the feet of teachers, potentially adding to their duties. It’s not clear if the Ministerial directive came with suggestions on enforcement or punitive measures.