Since 2024, schools nationwide have prohibited their students from using their phones at any point during school hours. Some have even taken it as far as taking students' phones outside of school hours, taking an item that they do not own. The New Zealand government justified their new ‘Phones Away for the Day’ policy, saying it would improve concentration and academic results of young people. Now, two years later, no significant changes have been seen in both CAA and NCEA results. 

We believe that after COVID-19, the New Zealand Government was under a lot of pressure to do something about students' decreasing scores. During the pandemic, many students stopped studying or struggled with independent study, which would explain the decreasing scores. Christopher Luxon decided the way to fix this problem was to blame phones, something that would resonate with the older generations. Schools were also already handling their own rules regarding phones in classrooms before the policy was in place. Therefore, phones were never the cause of declining academic results.

As a result, many students feel unsafe without being able to contact their parents in case of an emergency(or anybody, for that matter). They also feel it is unnecessary to take their phones during break times when they are not studying and simply need a moment to clear their minds. 

By signing this petition, you are agreeing that a change in policy needs to be made. Students in New Zealand should be allowed to use their phones during break times as well as in classrooms if a teacher gives them permission to do so.