The Ontario government is set to crack down on cellphone use and ban vaping in schools.
Beginning in the next academic year, Education minister Stephen Lecce announced students in kindergarten to Grade 6 will be required to keep phones on silent and out of sight for the entire school day, unless explicitly permitted by an educator.
Students in Grades 7 to 12 on the other hand will see cellphones banned all together, during class time.
Lecce says “If they do not comply, they will be asked to surrender their phones or they could be sent to the office,”
Repeat violations could lead to a suspension.
In addition to restrictions on cellphones and social media use, Lecce said vaping will be banned in all school alongside tobacco, nicotine and cannabis products.
Students caught carrying such products will have them confiscated, and schools will be required to notify parents.
The Ontario government announced last month that more security cameras and vape detectors will be installed in schools.