Bruton orders our schools to draw up smartphone policy
RICHARD Bruton will today tell schools they must consult students and parents about a smartphone policy as soon as possible.
The Education Minister’s department will issue a circular to every primary and secondary school, ordering them to decide policy for smartphones and tablets.
His department warns that there are ‘some risks associated with the misuse, abuse and possible overuse of these devices and the various associated technologies’.
Schools must decide ‘the appropriate use, if any, of tablet devices and smartphones in school’.
And schools are being told that policies may include ‘acceptable usage policy, antibullying policy, data protection policy and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy’.
The policy will also be written into an upcoming Education Bill.
The move follows an Irish Daily Mail campaign for a minimum age for smartphone ownership to protect children and to allow them better focus on education and their social lives.
Today the Mail highlights a school in Clarecastle in Co. Clare that has agreed with parents to restrict smartphone use. It follows on from a school in Kerry that has banned smartphone use and has already seen an improvement in mood and social skills among students.
Mr Bruton’s circular says the smartphone review will have to include parents, staff and pupils, and it must also consider: ÷ The issues governing the use of smartphones and tablet devices with regard to, for example, recording videos and taking photos; ÷ The nature and scope of restrictions that might be applied by the school, such as age grounds; ÷ If smartphones should be allowed outside of class time such as during breaks, or on school grounds after school; ÷ Schools should also raise awareness about an agreed way of dealing with students’ digital devices in the school and at home.
‘It is suggested that schools might use surveys, focus groups and questionnaires to gather information concerning concerns and insights on the use of devices and smartphones,’ the circular reads.
It also instructs schools that it should be implemented ‘as soon as possible’, and if they already have such a policy, they still must carry out a consultation process.
‘It is recognised that schools may already have policies in this area, for example, on BYOD and acceptable-usage.
‘Where this is the position, schools are advised that these policies be reviewed at the earliest opportunity and updated following the consultation.’
The circular opens with: ‘The Minister for Education and Skills has decided to request schools to consult with their school community, including teachers, students and parents regarding the use of smartphones, tablets and video-recording devices with a view to developing a wholeschool policy for their use, or updating an existing one.’ Speaking about the distribution of the circular, Mr Bruton said that he recognises that the ‘use of smartphones and tablet devices by our young people is an area that has raised concerns’.
And the Education Minister also paid tribute to St Brendan’s school in Blennerville, Co. Kerry for its recent actions on this.
Mr Bruton said: ‘New technologies are fundamentally transforming the world we live in. While these changes offer fantastic opportunities for our young people they are also associated with potential risks, which we as a Government are responding to.
‘We must harness their potential and ensure that parents, students and schools have a shared understanding of their use our education system,’ he said.