Saskatchewan’s Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill made an announcement on Tuesday, August 6th that the government would be implementing new rules for the 2024/25 school year that would restrict the use of cellphones in Saskatchewan schools.
Cockrill noted that the Saskatchewan government had heard loud and clear from parents, teachers and students that “Cellphones in classrooms are distracting our kids from learning and making teaching more difficult for our educators.”
These changes mean that cellphones will no longer be permitted during class time across Kindergarten to Grade 12 schools throughout the province.
“Technology has its place, but too often, cell phones are taking students’ attention away from what they should be learning,” Cockrill stated. “This new policy will allow students to be more engaged with their teachers and focused on learning the skills and knowledge they need to reach their potential.”
Other provinces such as Alberta, B.C., Ontario, Nova Scotia and Quebec have already announced that they will be implementing these measures for the upcoming school year.
Exemptions can apply at the discretion of the individual school divisions, such as if a device is needed for a medical reason, or specific learning needs. Additionally, teachers for grades 9-12 can receive an exemption if a cellphone is required for instructional purposes.
Each school division has emergency procedures in place to contact caregivers in case of emergency.
