In late August, Adyson Miniaci, a high school student, approached her final year without a cellphone, unsure of what to anticipate. She expressed to CBC that Quebec’s recent cellphone prohibition was more bothersome than stressful. Miniaci clarified that she primarily used her phone for organizational purposes, such as checking her calendar and utilizing the Google Classroom app to interact with teachers.
As the school year draws to a close, Miniaci reflects that the experience was not as challenging as she initially thought. The Quebec government announced the cellphone ban in May 2025, indicating that all cellphones and personal electronic devices would be prohibited throughout the entire school day, including breaks, in both public and private elementary and high schools. This regulation was a progression from the previous ban implemented in January 2024, which solely restricted device usage within classrooms.
Former Education Minister Bernard Drainville described the stricter measures as a means to foster more interactions among students and diminish potential conflicts when the province introduced the new ban. Miniaci, a student at Lester B. Pearson High School, attested to the positive impact of the ban by noting increased socialization and reduced reliance on technology for schoolwork. Similarly, Samantha Summer Deslauriers, a Secondary 2 student at the same school, shared that the absence of her phone led to enhanced learning experiences within the classroom.
Teacher Paul Karpontinis observed a shift in student behavior, noting increased focus during classes and heightened participation in extracurricular activities. He acknowledged that student compliance with the ban was swift, attributing this to the provincial mandate rather than school administration enforcement.
Although the province set the ban in motion, individual schools determine the enforcement methods. Students, like Lily Di Mauro, expressed concerns about the stricter consequences, highlighting the shift from detentions to suspensions for non-compliance. Miniaci, having experienced a suspension for violating the ban initially, acknowledged the adjustment period but now views the prohibition as routine.
Karpontinis suggested the possibility of revisiting the ban’s strictness in the future to allow limited phone usage during specific school periods. Despite this, he emphasized his preference for the ban, citing its positive impact on student engagement and academic focus.