NSW Labor says students are at risk of falling behind their peers in other states when it comes to banning mobile phones from schools.

If elected, a Minns Labor Government will take immediate action and introduce a statewide ban on mobile phones for students across all government schools in NSW.  

Last week a Parliamentary Inquiry into Teacher Shortages and Education Outcomes heard evidence from experts regarding the impacts of technology on students.

“If elected, the next Labor Government will make it very clear, NSW classrooms should be places focused on learning, free of digital distractions," said Chris Minns NSW Labor Leader.

“Our policy is evidence-based and will work.

“Only NSW Labor will take to the election a policy promising to ban mobile phones in schools and reverse our state’s educational decline.”  

In 2006, NSW was effectively ranked 6^th in reading, 9^th in maths, and 3^rd in science according to PISA rankings.  

NSW now ranks 23^rd in reading, 31^st in maths, and 23^rd in science.

Phones are currently only banned in government primary schools, but there is no consistent policy for high schools. 

NSW Labor will also introduce a $2.5 million research fund, to look at the impact of screen-related addictions on young people.

The fund will go to research projects that will increase understanding of the impact of excessive screen time, video games and mobile phone use on young people and their learning.

Labor has placed education front and centre with a comprehensive plan for a fresh start for education, including:

1. Building new co-located preschools, with 100 new public preschools and 50 new and expanded preschools at Catholic and Independent schools;
2. Converting 10,000 temporary teachers to permanent positions to end the casualisation of the teaching profession;
3. Cutting admin hours for teachers by five hours per week;
4. Banning the use of mobile phones in all NSW public schools to reduce distraction, cyberbullying and improve education outcomes;
5. Ending the failed overseas recruitment program and redirecting resources towards recruiting NSW teaching students into schools;
6. Expanding co-ed school access for all families so every parent has the choice of where to send their children; and
7. Labor’s Growth Areas Schools Plan which will deliver new and upgraded schools in growing areas across New South Wales.