(l-r) DES Deputy Director Dr. Richard Wildman; DES Acting Deputy Director Mrs. Tammy Hopkins; MoET Acting Chief Officer Mr. Elroy Bryan-Watler; Acting Governor Hon. Gloria McField-Nixon; Minister for Education and Training Hon. Rolston Anglin; Acting Deputy Governor Ms. Cetonya Cacho; MoET Deputy Ch
A section of the audience at the 2026 Education Professionals’ Welcome Event.
A group of students from Theoline McCoy Primary School perform at the 2026 Education Professionals’ Welcome Event.
All government schools will ban personal electronic devices, including mobile phones and any device that can be used for communication or connectivity, Education Minister Hon. Rolston Anglin announced Friday (21 August) at the Education Professionals’ Welcome Event at the John Gray High School Gymnasium. The policy takes effect as the 2026/2027 academic year begins on Wednesday, 26 August.
Minister Anglin said the decision follows numerous complaints from teachers and parents about classroom distraction. “Across every school campus, we received complaints about the distractions that unnecessary technology is causing,” he said. “We have taken that feedback very seriously.”
The Minister said that established communication policies are already in place to allow parents to reach their children and schools to reach parents when needed. “We will not be putting any child or their family at risk,” he said.
He added that schools will work directly with families of children with special and additional educational needs to address any concerns arising from the policy.
Schools will continue finalising the specific arrangements for implementing the policy and will provide parents with further information and guidance in the coming weeks. The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) and the Department of Education Services (DES) will support schools throughout implementation.
The Education Professionals’ Welcome Event marked the start of the 2026/2027 academic year for teachers and education professionals across the government system. Acting Governor Hon. Gloria McField-Nixon, Acting MoET Chief Officer Mr. Elroy Bryan-Watler and Director of Education Services Mr. Mark Ray also delivered remarks. Other notable attendees included Premier Hon. André Ebanks; Acting Deputy Governor Ms. Cetonya Cacho; Ministers Hon. Isaac Rankine, Hon. Nickolas DaCosta, and Hon. Michael Myles; Parliamentary Secretary Ms. Heather Bodden; Deputy Speaker Mrs. Pearlina McGaw-Lumsden; and Member of Parliament Mr. Christopher Saunders.
Watch the 2026 Education Professionals’ Welcome online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP7kCNlZceg&t=112s .
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