Canada’s New Brunswick cellphone ban: Students from kindergarten to Grade 8 won’t be allowed to use phones at school from...

With less than two weeks to go before the new school year, the New Brunswick government in Canada has announced a major change to how students can use personal devices in schools.

Starting in September, students from kindergarten through Grade 8 will not be allowed to use cellphones or personal mobile devices at school from the beginning to the end of the school day. High school students will initially have slightly different rules, but the restrictions will become stricter later in the school year, as per CBC News.

The government says the move is aimed at reducing distractions and helping students focus on learning and social connections.


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New Brunswick cellphone ban: What students need to know

Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Claire Johnson announced the changes at Oromocto High School on Friday. "We want to send a clear message that we want distractions to be limited as much as possible to be able to refocus on literacy, numeracy and social connection," Johnson said.

The changes come through revisions to Policy 311, which includes the province's cellphone guidance for schools. The government is also introducing Policy 902, which covers screen use in early learning centres.

For K-8 students, the cellphone restriction will apply throughout the entire school day, including breaks and other periods when students are at school.

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High school students get a transition period

High school students will initially have more flexibility. They will not be permitted to use their phones during class, but can still use them during lunch and between classes. That arrangement will continue until the second semester, when high schools will move to the same all-day restriction as K-8 schools.

"Based on our observation and feedback and collaboration that we have with schools and with districts, teenagers seem to be a little bit more attached to these devices than the younger students," Johnson said. "So the younger students are already closer to what we want to see with this policy."

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Johnson acknowledged that enforcing the rules could be challenging, particularly in schools where students have open lunch periods.

She said the policy is intended as a first step toward reducing distractions, even though schools cannot monitor every student at every moment.

Social media access will also face restrictions

The new policies will also restrict access to some social media platforms through school networks and devices. However, the government has not yet provided a list of which platforms will be restricted. Johnson said social media platforms that have legitimate educational uses will continue to be available.

There will also be exceptions to the cellphone rules for students who need personal devices for medical or learning purposes. This could include special learning tools or glucose monitoring.

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New screen-time rules for child-care centres

The changes also extend beyond schools. Under the new policy for licensed child-care centres, screen time will be limited to 30 minutes or less. Children under two will have no screen time.

Any screen use must have an educational purpose and will not be permitted during meal times.

Why is New Brunswick banning cellphones in schools?

New Brunswick's approach follows similar restrictions introduced elsewhere in Canada. The province's policy is comparable to a Quebec cellphone ban adopted in 2025, which prohibited cellphone and personal-device use from the beginning to the end of the school day, including breaks.

David Shipley, CEO of cybersecurity company Beauceron Security, said he was consulted on the New Brunswick policy and fully supports it.

"When this comes into effect, kids are going to feel it," Shipley said. "These devices access parts of your brain, the reward centres — same way tobacco does.

"We need to do to big tech what we did as a society to big tobacco: hold them accountable for the harms they've caused and protect our most vulnerable."

Teachers and parents react to the cellphone ban

Heidi Ryder, president of the New Brunswick Teachers' Association, said she hopes the changes improve both academic outcomes and student wellbeing. She said the rollout will require "careful implementation" along with time and patience.

Ryder also stressed that students, particularly those in high school, should have access to an alternative device whenever technology is required for learning.

"The NBTA is willing to work with all education stakeholders … to support a thoughtful and successful transition."

Some parents are also welcoming the restrictions. Fredericton parent Jen Worrall called the cellphone ban "fantastic", saying she already has rules around cellphone use at home.

She said managing screen time can be difficult even for adults. "We have to help them come up with these good habits because they're designed to be so addictive," Worrall said.