Conservative Senedd member for the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend Andrew RT Davies has warned the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s decision to issue school transport passes via a smartphone app “sends the wrong message”.
The use of smartphones in schools is linked to many health, behavioural and educational challenges for children.
The British Government is banning the use of smartphones in England, a policy Mr Davies said should be implemented in Wales.
But he warned the Council’s app took the opposite approach.
He said it “sent a message to parents they should be sending their children to school with smartphones”.
Mr Davies said:
“At a time when measures should be taken to restrict smartphone use in schools, this policy sends the wrong message.
“It effectively tells parents it’s essential to give their children a smartphone to take to school.
“Those children who do not have access to a device will be severely disadvantaged by this policy – the Council must think again.
“Rather than take an approach that encourages parents to send their children to school with smartphones, action should be taken to restrict their usage.
“Senedd ministers must replicate the approach in England and ban smartphones in schools.”
ENDS
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