Newry MLA welcomes new Smart Phone guidance | Newry News

SDLP MLA Justin McNulty has welcomed new guidance issued by the Department of Education restricting the personal use of mobile phones throughout the school day, including at break and lunch times.

The Newry and Armagh Assembly Member has said that the new guidance from the Department of Education is a step towards protecting the development of children’s minds and their learning environment, tackling bullying and making progress to promote online safety for Children and Young people.

Commenting on the guidance Justin McNulty MLA says, “Smartphones are part of modern life, and are valuable windows to information, opportunity and social connection.

“While welcoming the potential of technology, it is also appropriate to give people, particularly children, space to think, develop and learn without distraction.

“And as such I welcome the Education Minister’s intention to ask schools to give thought to how phones are used during the school day. 

“I have previously urged the Education Minister to take action on this issue, and I welcome the progress of his announcement.

“Digital skills are vital throughout the curriculum and should continue to be mainstreamed in the school day.

“But restricted use of handheld devices will reduce interruption, help with focus and safeguarding, and hopefully support better mental health for young people.

“School leaders will require the support of parents and the entire school community when it comes to tackling mobile phone use that is detrimental to learning and development.

“We know from research that digital distraction is not merely an inconvenience; it appears to have a tangible association with learning outcomes.

“It is important that a range of options have been made available to schools and I welcome this step forward.”

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Posted by NewryTimes News on Sep 30 2024. Filed under Community, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry