Canada province bans cellphones in schools

By Sohail Khan 30 August 2026, 12:17 am

Benchmarks
Nifty24,175.6584.81

Precious Metal
Gold (MCX) (Rs/10g.)156,400.00-2596.0

Enter search text:

Business News›News›International›Global Trends›Canada’s New Brunswick cellphone ban: Students from kindergarten to Grade 8 won’t be allowed to use phones at school from…

Read Today's Paper

Canada’s New Brunswick cellphone ban: Students from kindergarten to Grade 8 won’t be allowed to use phones at school from…
Synopsis

Canada’s New Brunswick is introducing a strict cellphone ban in schools from September, with K-8 students barred from using personal devices throughout the school day. High school students will initially be allowed to use phones during lunch and between classes, but the same all-day restrictions will apply from the second semester. The province is also limiting screen time in licensed child-care centres.

Canada’s New Brunswick cellphone ban<br> — Starting in September, students from kindergarten through Grade 8 will not be allowed to use cellphones or personal mobile devices at school (AI generated)

With less than two weeks to go before the new school year, the New Brunswick government in Canada has announced a major change to how students can use personal devices in schools.

Starting in September, students from kindergarten through Grade 8 will not be allowed to use cellphones or personal mobile devices at school from the beginning to the end of the school day. High school students will initially have slightly different rules, but the restrictions will become stricter later in the school year, as per CBC News.

The government says the move is aimed at reducing distractions and helping students focus on learning and social connections.

New Brunswick cellphone ban: What students need to know

Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Claire Johnson announced the changes at Oromocto High School on Friday. "We want to send a clear message that we want distractions to be limited as much as possible to be able to refocus on literacy, numeracy and social connection," Johnson said.

The changes come through revisions to Policy 311, which includes the province's cellphone guidance for schools. The government is also introducing Policy 902, which covers screen use in early learning centres.

For K-8 students, the cellphone restriction will apply throughout the entire school day, including breaks and other periods when students are at school.

High school students get a transition period

High school students will initially have more flexibility. They will not be permitted to use their phones during class, but can still use them during lunch and between classes. That arrangement will continue until the second semester, when high schools will move to the same all-day restriction as K-8 schools.

"Based on our observation and feedback and collaboration that we have with schools and with districts, teenagers seem to be a little bit more attached to these devices than the younger students," Johnson said. "So the younger students are already closer to what we want to see with this policy."

ALSO READ: First US phosphate fertiliser plant since 1984

Johnson acknowledged that enforcing the rules could be challenging, particularly in schools where students have open lunch periods.

She said the policy is intended as a first step toward reducing distractions, even though schools cannot monitor every student at every moment.

Social media access will also face restrictions

The new policies will also restrict access to some social media platforms through school networks and devices. However, the government has not yet provided a list of which platforms will be restricted. Johnson said social media platforms that have legitimate educational uses will continue to be available.

There will also be exceptions to the cellphone rules for students who need personal devices for medical or learning purposes. This could include special learning tools or glucose monitoring.

ALSO READ: Lambs grazing under an Oregon solar farm had 38% less grass than those in an open field, yet gained the same weight as shade made the pasture more nutritious

New screen-time rules for child-care centres

The changes also extend beyond schools. Under the new policy for licensed child-care centres, screen time will be limited to 30 minutes or less. Children under two will have no screen time.

Any screen use must have an educational purpose and will not be permitted during meal times.

Why is New Brunswick banning cellphones in schools?

New Brunswick's approach follows similar restrictions introduced elsewhere in Canada. The province's policy is comparable to a Quebec cellphone ban adopted in 2025, which prohibited cellphone and personal-device use from the beginning to the end of the school day, including breaks.

David Shipley, CEO of cybersecurity company Beauceron Security, said he was consulted on the New Brunswick policy and fully supports it.

"When this comes into effect, kids are going to feel it," Shipley said. "These devices access parts of your brain, the reward centres — same way tobacco does.

"We need to do to big tech what we did as a society to big tobacco: hold them accountable for the harms they've caused and protect our most vulnerable."

Teachers and parents react to the cellphone ban

Heidi Ryder, president of the New Brunswick Teachers' Association, said she hopes the changes improve both academic outcomes and student wellbeing. She said the rollout will require "careful implementation" along with time and patience.

Ryder also stressed that students, particularly those in high school, should have access to an alternative device whenever technology is required for learning.

"The NBTA is willing to work with all education stakeholders … to support a thoughtful and successful transition."

Some parents are also welcoming the restrictions. Fredericton parent Jen Worrall called the cellphone ban "fantastic", saying she already has rules around cellphone use at home.

She said managing screen time can be difficult even for adults. "We have to help them come up with these good habits because they're designed to be so addictive," Worrall said.

Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source
Add Now!

(You can now subscribe to our WhatsApp channel)

(You can now subscribe to our WhatsApp channel)

Read More News on
New Brunswick cellphone banCanada school cellphone banCanada schoolsNew Brunswick schoolscellphone restrictionsstudent phone banschool phone policykindergarten to Grade 8high school studentsscreen time rules

Enter search text:

Continue reading with one of these options:
Limited Access
Free
Login to get access to some exclusive stories

& personalised newsletters
Login Now

Unlimited Access
Starting @ Rs120/month
Get access to exclusive stories, expert opinions &

in-depth stock reports
Subscribe Now

Unlock Access to All Exclusives with ETPrime FREE TRIAL

15 Days Free: Unlock All ETPrime Exclusives, Market Tools & ePapers

Trial offer expiring in00 : 05 : 00

I'd rather pay ₹2599 now

Uh-oh! This is an exclusive story available for selected readers only.

Worry not. You’re just a step away.

Prime Account Detected!

It seems like you're already an ETPrime member with

Log out of your current logged-in account and log in again using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits.

Unlock ETPrime's Exclusive Stories Today!

Subscribe to gain powerful insights on business, stock market and industry trends.

Big Price Drop! Flat 40% Off

Student Only Offer

Already a Member? Sign In now

Already a Member? Sign In now
Already a Member? Sign In now

Offer Exclusively For You

Save up to Rs. 700/-

ON ET PRIME MEMBERSHIP

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get 1 Year Free

With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get 1 Year Free

With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get Flat 40% Off

Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

ET Prime at ₹ 49 for 1 month

Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year

Avail Offer

Special Offer

Get flat 40% off on ETPrime

Avail Offer
Avail Offer

Claim NowAlready a Member? Sign In now

Need Assistance?

Connect with an ETPrime expert for personalized support and guidance

+91 9484700004

' + h3 + '

' + h4 + '

' + listing + '

What’s Included with

ETPrime Membership

1Exclusive Insights That Matter

Uncover the truth with our investigative stories

Make strategic moves using the real-world case studies

Read industry-specific stories to identify emerging trends

Spot opportunities with in-depth insights that matter

Trump temper on H-1B visas is forcing Indians to do these things to stay put in US

What Adani’s US indictment means for India Inc’s overseas fundraising
Why veterans like Reliance, L&T are on acquisition spree? Aswath Damodaran has an answer.

Will China’s dollar bond sale in Saudi Arabia trump the US in financial world?
Huawei launches its own OS to compete with Google and Apple. But can it win beyond China?

The problem with lab grown diamonds
Why a falling rupee is a better option for the economy

A list of top 20 momentum stocks that have delivered massive returns in one year