‘Ahead of the curve’: Longford ETB at forefront of new smartphone pilot
Cllr Peggy Nolan said she has no doubt the pilot will be such a success that it will be rolled out nationally
LONGFORD and Westmeath Education and Training Board is the first education provider in Ireland to participate in a new pilot programme designed to help second-level schools reduce smartphone distraction.
Local representatives have been reacting to the positive news.
Cllr Peggy Nolan commented:
“I'm delighted that we are chosen as the pilot . The teachers are young, energetically minded regardless of their age. They know the value of time off screens. They will work their hardest to ensure that this is a success, and I'm absolutely delighted that it's Longford Westmeath ETB that are to the fore in this pilot.
“It's just very negative in every way, too much screen time and I'm sure that LWETB will go over and above to make this a success because long before the government brought in purses to put their phones in, Templemichael College in Longford provided a safe space for those students to place their phones during school hours.
Cllr Nolan explained: “They rolled that out as an initiative in the school. The students were all very compliant and it was a great success so as far as I'm concerned we're ahead of the curve. They know what they're doing and this is something that I have no doubt will be such a success that it will be rolled out nationally.”