SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Fflint Wrecsam says the use of mobile phones in schools should be restricted.
Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Rowlands, Welsh Conservative spokesperson for Education and Families asked the First Minister, Rhun ap Iorwerth, why he won’t support a Wales wide ban on smartphones in Wales.
Mr Rowlands, who is a parent, said: “Many children live much of their time online, in the cyber world, in the virtual world, where safeguarding concerns continue to exist for those young people.
“We’ve called for a smartphone ban in schools across Wales to protect and support those children who are facing cyber bullying content, which is certainly not appropriate for them.
“Why is it that your Government are not supporting our calls for a Wales-wide ban on phones in schools, so that those children can be protected in the right way?”
The First Minister said his Government did not believe in taking action and said measures were in place to make sure that we protect children and their education from the impact of mobile phones in schools.
Mr Rowlands added: “I am bitterly disappointed at the response from the First Minister, as he is totally disregarding what experts are saying on this deeply concerning issue.
“The UK Government in England is intending to pass a law so that schools must adhere to the guidance that all schools should be free of smartphones throughout the day.
“We need stronger action to protect under 16’s in school from social media and it should not be left to individual schools to come up with their own measures.”
