New Brunswick to Ban Student Cell Phone Use in Public Schools

New Brunswick is implementing a province-wide ban on student cell phone use in public schools, aiming to curb distractions and enhance the learning environment. Starting this September, elementary school students will be prohibited from using their phones and other mobile devices throughout the school day.

The restriction will be extended to high school students in February. In addition to personal devices, the province will also block access to social media sites on school-provided devices and internet networks. However, students will still be permitted to use personal laptops and tablets for educational purposes.

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That’s why we’re taking action to reduce distractions, limit exposure to social media sites and support the well-being of students.

This move positions New Brunswick as having one of the strictest policies in Canada, with Quebec being the only other province with a blanket ban for all grades. Ontario has a ban for younger grades (kindergarten to Grade 6) and restricts phone use during class time for older students, while other provinces have varying regulations, often leaving specific rules to individual school boards.

Education Minister Claire Johnson stated that the decision is driven by concerns over excessive screen time and social media's negative impact on children and youth. "That's why we're taking action to reduce distractions, limit exposure to social media sites and support the well-being of students," Johnson said. She believes that by putting away phones, students can better concentrate on learning and developing essential literacy and numeracy skills.

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By putting away phones and other personal mobile devices, students can focus on learning and building the foundational skills in literacy and numeracy.