It’s only been a few months since a new cell phone policy in schools was adopted province-wide, but the minister of education says schools are already seeing positive changes.

The new policy was implemented when students returned to school in January following the Christmas break.

Under the policy, students in grades K-6 were encouraged not to bring phones or personal electronic devices to school, and students in grades 7 to 12 who bring their phones to school must have them switched off and out of sight while in the classroom.

Minister Bernard Davis says the policy was implemented in response to growing concerns in the province and across the country about distraction and even bullying and violence in the classroom.

He says a survey was conducted in April and May of 154 administrators which reported “improvements to student engagement and focus and enhancement of social interactions, which is what we intended.”