The Government of the Northwest Territories has released their new guidelines for establishing policies regarding cellphones and other mobile devices in schools.
These guidelines will help education bodies in the territory to develop cellphone policies for their local area that promote student engagement, well-being, and responsible technology use.
“These guidelines will support education bodies in developing clear, practical approaches to personal mobile device use,” said Minister Caitlin Cleveland.
As the impact of cellphones on student learning and mental health grows, both the public and education leaders have been calling for greater guidance as to how these devices should be regulated in schools.
The GNWT, working with various education partners, developed these guidelines to provide practical resources to inform educators’ decision making and help them to develop policies that reflect their local realities.
This does not create a territory-wide policy, as that authority lies with the individual District Education Authorities under the Northwest Territories Education Act, instead providing recommendations and templates for educators to use to inform their own policies.
“This resource will promote student well-being and improve student outcomes, while reflecting local needs and community priorities,” said Cleveland.
The guidelines can be found here.
