Ontario Takes Strong Stance on Cellphone Use and Vaping in Schools

The Ontario government under the leadership of Education Minister Stephen Lecce has initiated stringent measures to address the escalating concerns of cellphone use and vaping in schools across the province.

During a recent press conference in North York, Lecce emphasized the need to eliminate distractions and mitigate the negative impact of mobile devices, social media, and vaping on classroom environments.

Starting September, students from kindergarten to Grade 6 must keep their phones on silent and out of sight throughout the school day unless permission is granted for usage.

For students in Grades 7 to 12, cellphone usage during instructional hours will be prohibited unless authorized by school staff, with disciplinary actions for non-compliance including phone surrender or office referral.

Additionally, a $30 million allocation from the 2024 budget will be utilized to install vape detectors and enhance security measures in schools to combat the proliferation of vaping products among students.

Dr. Kieran Moore, the province’s chief medical officer of health, affirmed that banning vaping in schools is a crucial step in safeguarding students from the hazardous effects of these products on their health.