Phone pouches are cost-effective and good for student ‘equity’, briefing document says
A briefing on a €9 million plan to buy phone pouches for schools said they were easy to use, cost-effective, and better for “equity” among students.
A Department of Education document said it also avoided mobiles being put “on display,” which could be divisive for pupils over who had the most expensive or up-to-date device.
Six schools were contacted about their experiences of using pouches, with all of them “very positive” about how they worked.
The briefing said there were half a dozen solutions to avoid use of phones, including placing them in school bags, handing them in at a central location each day, or using a locker.
The other ideas were specific transparent phone lockers, mobile lockers in classes, and the controversial “lockable phone pouch” suggestion.
The briefing said: “All schools have indicated that a solution where students retain responsibility for their phones rather than placing them in a central location is preferable.”
