Emerging community concern about the risks of careless, criminal or malicious use towards students and education staff has prompted the ban, as the devices become more widely accessible.
Director General of the Department of Education, Jay Peckitt, has issued a CEO Instruction to all WA public school principals to ban students, staff, parents, carers and visitors from wearing, using and storing smart glasses on school sites.
Winton said keeping students and staff safe at school is a priority for the Cook Labor Government.
“This ban is about taking a common sense, preventative approach,” she said in a statement.
“We know that smart glasses are becoming more accessible and can have a detrimental impact on people’s privacy and wellbeing.”
The Minister said students should be able to focus on learning, and teachers should be able to do their jobs without worrying they are being secretly recorded.
“Technology can be a great asset to teaching and learning, but there needs to be clear boundaries when it comes to devices that can make others feel unsafe.”
The ban will apply during all school activities on school grounds, and when students and staff are representing their school offsite.
Exemptions can be made by principals for students with special circumstances such as medical conditions, and the Department has developed communication resources to assist schools with informing students, families and staff about the ban.
Schools will be supported to implement the change through existing policies and procedures to ensure a consistent and practical approach.
Smart glasses are causing significant concern in schools primarily because they look identical to ordinary prescription eyewear but allow for undetectable, covert recording and cheating.
As affordable models hit the consumer market, education departments, experts, and regulators are sounding alarms over severe risks to privacy, student wellbeing, and academic integrity
While there isn’t a single nationwide ban covering every jurisdiction yet, individual schools and state education departments are shoring up enforcement of strict personal device policies.
For example, states like Victoria are continuously expanding device bans in schools to restrict related wearables like smartwatches and wireless headphones.
Most schools across Australia treat camera- or recording-capable smart glasses under existing mobile phone and digital device policies, which generally require such electronics to be switched off and stored away during school hours
The smart glasses ban builds on the WA Labor Government’s strong stance on personal devices in schools, including the ‘off and away all day’ policy, which has prohibited student mobile phone use during the school day since 2020 and requires smart watches to be set to airplane mode.
The Cook Government said it will continue to prioritise measures that create safer WA communities, and support safe and respectful school environments.
Peckitt, said the misuse of smart glasses can have dangerous and long-lasting implications for school staff and students.
“I am confident schools, staff, students and families will support this change, which is designed to protect privacy and help keep school communities safe,” Peckitt said.
(with AAP)
