Victoria to limit devices in schools to two hours a day
Updated . First published
Schools across Victoria are set to switch off next year, with the state government announcing strict device-free time in classrooms.
Students will still be allowed to use devices for a maximum two hours a day, but former Victorian principal, Simon Dewar, told Today it’s about being “proactive” with strategies around children’s wellbeing.
Former principal, Simon Dewar, discusses Victoria reinstating device-free time across all schools by 2027 Today
“I think there is a lot more to come out around the details,” he told Today.
“I also think there will be a lot of teachers across schools who will be watching this and hearing this announcement, who are already implementing this.”
While device use is inevitable with the heavy use of technology in children’s futures, Simon said reinstating device-free time in classrooms won’t be counterproductive.
“These are tools we want to embrace and upskill our children and make sure they are ready to go with AI when they hit the workforce, but we also want that to be alongside a whole range of other skills,” he said.
“We want them to be able to have good conversation with their peers, we want them to be able to find their way in healthy debate, we want them to be able to think critically, to problem solve and then there are basic skills like handwriting and basic math skills.”
Simon also noted the finer details on the reimplementation need to be worked out by the time 2027 rolls around.
“I have a son who is in year 12 and he would be using (a device) in excess of two hours now and as a parent I am quite comfortable with that because that developmental stage of learning is appropriate,” he said.
Watch the full interview with Simon Dewar in the video above
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