B.C. schools will implement restrictions on cellphones and other digital devices as part of a broader initiative to promote student safety and well-being.
“Every child in British Columbia should feel safe, supported and engaged when they head back to school next week,” said Premier David Eby. “Our government is ensuring students can reach their full potential by restricting cellphones in classrooms, keeping harassing protestors away from school grounds, and making sure kids are fed and ready to learn.”
Every school district now has policies to limit cellphone use at school. These guidelines specify when students are permitted to use their phones and consider the need for devices for accessibility and medical reasons.
Policies may vary across different districts and age groups, according to a media release from August 27.
“We want to ensure that when kids are in the classroom, they can learn without distractions that take away from their ability to thrive in school,” said Rachna Singh, Minister of Education and Child Care. “This work will help to minimize some of those distractions so we can set students up for success, and we can then focus on empowering students to develop safe, informed, healthy habits when using technology and social media.”
This measure is part of a broader initiative directed at enhancing student safety and well-being, which includes:
· Protecting children from extortion and online predators
· Protecting students and staff from potential harassment by the implantation of access zones around schools
· Utilizing a $214-million investment to create and expand school food programs
· Starting this school year, efforts will be made to mandate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training for all students before graduation. Currently, 90% of public secondary schools already provide CPR instruction.
The Safe Access to Schools Act grants the province the legal authority to prevent individuals from obstructing safe access to school grounds.
Access zones have been established around K-12 schools. Police have the authority to arrest or issue citations to individuals who obstruct access, disrupt educational activities, or try to intimidate someone within 20 meters (66 feet) of school grounds.
The access zones will be enforced on school days from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and during extracurricular activities, at all K-12 public and independent schools across B.C., with some specific exceptions.
The Province is also offering digital literacy training for students and parents to equip them with the knowledge and tools necessary to protect themselves from online risks, foster responsible digital citizenship, and cultivate healthy interactions with technology.
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