#526 Schools Without Phones – Better Learning?

Host Niall is joined by schoolteacher Eric Nelligan to debate whether children should have mobile phones in school. The conversation focuses on Northern Ireland’s new pilot scheme, launched by Education Minister Paul Givan, which requires pupils in nine schools to lock their phones away during the day as part of a wider push to keep devices off school grounds.

Niall and Eric weigh the pros and cons: supporters say banning phones boosts focus, mental health, and social interaction, while critics argue it limits learning tools, creates enforcement issues, and undermines student responsibility. Callers add their own perspectives, from parents who welcome the change to students and teachers who see potential downsides.