The Minister of Education says she recognizes that the transition to a new policy on the use of cell phones in and on school property is going to be challenging.

That’s why government is seeking feedback from the public and others in the educational system before the proposed policy is put in place when students head back to class in early January.

The new policy proposes to ban cell phones and other personal electronic devices from all schools in the K-6 system and, while phones aren’t being banned outright in Grades 7 through 12, their use won’t be allowed in school or on school grounds and they must be turned off and hidden away.

Minister Krista Lynn Howell says she understands that’s going to be challenging, but they’re treating cell phones like vapes and other harmful products and devices.

“We do recognize that we have a lot of students who are just used to having these devices, and we do expect that there will be a little bit of anxiety as we move forward with this policy,” says Howell. She says in terms of the proposed policy, they’re comparing cell phones to things like vapes and cigarettes.

“We just do not want to see them in our schools.”

The department is inviting feedback from the public until December 6 and the policy is expected to be in place come January 6.