Ontario to issue tougher policies for cellphone use and vaping in schools

The Ontario government is expected to strengthen its policies on the use of cellphones and vaping in schools, giving school leaders the authority to notify parents and suspend students who don’t comply.Draft confidential documents obtained by The Globe and Mail stated that the government heard about challenges “with a range of inappropriate student behaviours and inconsistencies” among school boards in enforcement.The province currently mandates that cellphones only be used in class for educational, health and medical purposes, as well as to support special educational needs. However, “sector partners have highlighted that current restrictions on the use of personal mobile devices are difficult to enforce, leading to inconsistencies in how rules are applied,” the documents stated.