Young carers in Scotland argue that mobile phones are more than a luxury for them, and school policies need to consider their unique responsibilities.
Last week, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and the UK Department for Education backed a full ban on mobile phones in English schools.
With questions about whether Scotland would follow, a recent poll of Herald readers found that 99 per cent of respondents support a similar mobile phone ban in Scottish schools.
But Fraser Bradwell of Unity Enterprise, a carer service in South Ayrshire, said that thousands of Scottish students are someone’s primary caregiver.
For these young carers, the situation isn’t so black-and-white.
“Unity believes it is imperative that young carers are able to maintain contact during the school day, both for their own wellbeing and that of the person they care for.
“Some young carers choose not to attend school rather than face the stress and anxiety of being out of contact for a whole day, compounding the inequality they already face.”
He added that requests for consideration shouldn’t be seen as children looking to skirt the rules.
“Any suggestion that young carers gain an unfair advantage or perk by being permitted to maintain contact with the person they care for is entirely misplaced.
