Students in the Northern Territory will not be subject to the controversial mobile phone ban recently adopted in Victorian schools.
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At a meeting in Melbourne yesterday, federal minister for education Dan Tehan encouraged all states and territories to follow the Victorian Government's lead and ban mobile phones in state schools during class time.
Minister for education Selena Uibo said the NT has no plans to follow in Victoria's bold steps, as a way to tackle mounting levels of cyberbullying, help reduce distraction and improve learning outcomes for students.
Ms Uibo told the meeting the NT supports school autonomy in deciding whether or not phones should be banned in classrooms as they can be valuable learning aids for young people using the devices properly, to equip them with the skills they need for jobs of the future.
"The NT Government has a zero tolerance approach to bullying, including cyber-bullying," Ms Uibo said.
"Territory schools are required to put in place policies and procedures governing the use of electronic devices in the classroom, including mobile phones, and schools should retain this autonomy.
"Cyber safety and tackling cyber bullying is a key focus in NT schools, and is being addressed with a number of local programs, including the Dolly's Dream eSmart program, developed by the parents of young bullying victim Dolly Everett.
"An outright ban on mobile phones fails to take into account the many ways in which they can enhance learning.
"Responsible use of technology, such as mobile phones, is an important life skill for young people."
The ban will come into effect for state schools in Victoria from term one, 2020.
Under the strict new rules, students will be prohibited from using a phone between the first and last school bell.
Phones must be switched off and kept in a locker, even during recess.
The only exceptions to the ban will be where students use phones to monitor health conditions, or where teachers instruct students to bring their phone for a particular classroom activity.
The hotly debated reform was announced earlier this week by minister for education James Merlino, following recently released research from Headspace which states 53 per cent of young Australians have experienced cyberbullying.
"This will remove a major distraction from our classrooms, so that teachers can teach, and students can learn in a more focused, positive and supported environment," Mr Merlino said.
"Half of all young people have experienced cyberbullying. By banning mobiles we can stop it at the school gate."
The Northern Territory has joined all other states and territories, except Victoria, in opposing the blanket ban on mobile phones in classrooms.
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