Survey finds 91% of South African parents support school phone restrictions
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The 2026 Karri Parent Survey, which polled 2,780 parents across South Africa’s nine provinces, found that 91% of respondents favored stricter controls on mobile phone usage during school hours. Parents cited concerns regarding the impact of digital devices on student safety, mental health, and maturity, with 74% suggesting a minimum age of 16 for social media access. While 37% of surveyed parents supported a total ban on phones at school, 54% advocated for a policy where devices are locked away during the day, leaving only 7% in favor of unrestricted use.
Consequences
The widespread parental consensus may pressure educational authorities to establish a unified national policy on school-based cellphone management to provide a consistent regulatory framework. Furthermore, the survey highlights a significant gap in financial planning, as 75% of participating families currently lack education insurance to protect against the loss of a provider.
Sources
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