Victorian education minister James Merlino’s announcement that mobile phones will be banned for all students at state primary and secondary schools is certainly a bold move.

The policy has been justified as a direct response to mounting levels of cyberbullying, concerns over distractions and schools struggling with disciplining students in relation to phone misuse. 

We asked Professor Neil Selywn, Research Professor in education at the Monash University, and author of the book Is Technology Good for Education if banning mobile phones will have the desired effect.