Quebec students can say goodbye to filming TikToks between classes.
Starting next school year, students across the province won’t be allowed to use their cellular phones at all during the school day — not just in class, but during breaks and even on school grounds.
According to a Thursday report from Radio-Canada, the provincial government is set to expand its current classroom cellphone ban to cover the entire school day in both primary and secondary schools. The measure, first reported on Thursday morning and confirmed by The Canadian Press, will take effect in time for the 2025-2026 school year.
Quebec Education Minister Bernard Drainville is expected to make an official announcement on Thursday afternoon.
Cellphones have been banned in Quebec classrooms since January 2024, but this new rule will take things further by restricting phone use from arrival to dismissal, including recess and lunch hours. The original policy, made official through Article 459.6 of the Education Act, prohibits students from using phones, headphones, or other personal devices inside classrooms, unless for learning purposes, health reasons, or to accommodate a disability.
The goal, according to the directive, is to help students stay focused, reduce stress, and cut down on disruptions linked to cyberbullying and social media.
You can find the full directive on the Quebec government’s website.
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