A Phone-Free School Day

More focus. Real connection. A safer environment.

Effective at the start of the 2026/2027 academic year, the Ministry of Education & Training introduced the Cayman Islands Mobile Phones (Safer School) Policy, mandating that all government schools prohibit the use of personal electronic devices, including mobile phones and any other devices that can be used for communication or connectivity.

The policy establishes a consistent, phone-free environment across government schools, with a focus on supporting student safety, learning, and well-being.

To ensure widespread awareness and understanding, the Ministry has launched the ‘Phones Down, Minds Up’ awareness campaign. The campaign aims to inform all stakeholders about the policy, including its purpose, rationale, and benefits.

What Does a Phone-Free Day Mean?

A phone-free school day means that students in government schools cannot bring, possess, use, or access personal mobile phones or other prohibited electronic devices while they are under school supervision. This includes the time students are on school premises, travelling on school-operated or contracted transportation, and participating in school-supervised activities off campus.

The policy applies throughout the school day, with limited exceptions where an approved arrangement is in place, such as for certain medical, disability, safeguarding, or work-placement needs.

'Phones Down, Minds Up' Campaign

What are we trying to achieve?

The Ministry of Education & Training aims to educate all stakeholders about the Cayman Islands Mobile Phones (Safer School) Policy and build understanding of its purpose and benefits for student learning, well-being, safety, and responsible technology use.

Who are we targeting?

The campaign focuses on the following audiences:

Parents and guardians of children enrolled in the government education system
Students attending government schools
Educators in government schools

What are our key messages?

The Cayman Islands Mobile Phones (Safer Schools) Policy is designed to support the safety, focus, and well-being of students by reducing distractions, strengthening social connections, and encouraging responsible and balanced technology use.
Alternative communication channels will remain available to support communication during emergencies.
Clear communication and consistent expectations from school staff will help ensure the policy is implemented fairly, inclusively, and supportively across schools.
The policy recognises that technology is an important part of modern life while ensuring students have opportunities to learn, connect, and thrive.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the Cayman Islands Mobile Phone (Safer School) Policy?

The policy established a consistent national framework to support student well-being, strengthen safeguarding, reduce distractions and online risks, promote positive behaviour and maximise engagement in learning by ensuring that:

All Government schools shall operate a phone-free environment during the school day. This means students may not bring, possess, use, or access personal mobile phones and prohibited personal electronic devices.

2. To whom does this policy apply?

This policy applies to all government school students whenever they are under the school’s supervision.

3. When does the prohibition apply?

The prohibition applies throughout the school day. It begins when a student arrives on school premises, boards school-operated or contracted transport, or otherwise comes under school supervision and ends when the student leaves the premises, gets off the school transport, or is no longer under school supervision.

4. Does this policy apply during school trips, sports events, or other off-site school activities?

Yes. The policy applies whenever a student is under the school’s supervision, including school trips, sports events, and other school-supervised activities held off school premises.

5. Does the policy apply during work experience and college placements?

Year 12 students on approved off-site placements, such as work experience, internships, vocational programmes, dual-enrolment courses, or college placements through CIFEC, Layman Scott High School, or another approved provider, may use a phone or other device where the placement provider permits or requires it for legitimate educational, operational, health and safety, or workplace purposes.

6. What devices are prohibited under this policy?

This policy prohibits mobile phones, smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, wireless earbuds, headphones and other personal electronic devices that can communicate, access the internet, record, take photos, play games or store data.

7. What happens if a student has a prohibited device in his/her possession during the school day?

Sanctions are proportionate to the circumstances, ranging from low-level to repeated or deliberate breaches, serious misconduct or safeguarding concerns.

A device may be confiscated pending collection by parent/guardian, disciplinary action or referral to law enforcement where appropriate.

Read the policy in the publications section below for the full list of breaches and sanctions.

8. What if a student’s school-issued device is not working and they would like to use a personal device at school?

Students should tell their teacher or ICT representative about a malfunctioning school-issued device as soon as possible so a replacement or repair can be arranged.

Personal devices are not permitted as a substitute for a school-issued device, in keeping with the policy's phone-free environment.

Schools will ensure that students have another approved way to keep learning while the issue is being resolved.

9. How can parents/guardians contact their child/ward during the school day?

Parents/guardians may call the school's main office or designated staff members during the school day if contact is required. Each school will confirm its preferred contacts.

10. What if my child has an after-school activity or commitment that requires contacting a parent for pickup?

Arrangements for after-school activities, including pick-up coordination, can be made through the school office or a designated staff member. Each school will let parents know the process for after-school pickup contact.

11. If a device is confiscated, where is it kept and when is it returned?

(See Question 7)

12. Why has the Ministry introduced a full restriction rather than allowing limited use, such as during breaks?

A consistent policy is the clearest and fairest way to reduce distractions, protect learning time, and support positive social connection among students. A partial approach was considered, but a full-day rule keeps expectations the same for every student and avoids the disruption and disagreement that come with uneven enforcement.

13. What if a child has a condition that requires special support?

Talk to your child's school. There are no general exceptions, allowing device use on campus, but schools will work with families to set up an appropriate arrangement that meets the need without using a prohibited personal device.

14. Are there any exceptions to this policy?

Some students may have a genuine need for an exception, such as an approved medical, disability, or safeguarding requirement, or participation in an approved off-site placement (see Question 5). Schools will work with families to agree a suitable arrangement on a case-by-case basis.

15. Where can I access the full policy?

The Cayman Islands Mobile Phone (Safer School) Policy document is available in the Publications section at the bottom of this page.

Learn More

Publications

Cayman Islands Mobile Phone (Safer School) Policy

23 September 2026 | Policy

The Ministry of Education and Training is committed to ensuring safe, orderly, inclusive, and focused learning environments that promote student well-being, positive behaviour, and educational achievement. Recognising that the use of mobile phones and personal electronic devices during the school day may disrupt learning, impact behaviour, and present safeguarding risks, this policy establishes a clear and consistent national framework for their management across all Government schools.

News

Mobile Phones Banned in Government Schools

25 August 2026 | Press Release

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

Mobile Phones (Safer Schools) Policy - MoET - Ministry of Education & Training