There are fresh calls for smartphones to be banned in primary schools, and high schools to immediately teach tech-discipline to students. 

A Finnish education expert thinks smartphone-related distraction is one of the main reasons Australia is sliding down the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) rankings.

Maurie Mulheron, President of NSW Teachers Federation tells Chris Smith he doesn’t think an outright ban is the answer.

“It’s a balance between limits, bans where appropriate, and of course education in the use of the device.”

Mulheron is calling for some direction and guidance across the state on the issue and says phones are dominating students lives and that needs to change.

“We know relationships between human beings is at the centre of good education…the human dynamic is so important in schools and that’s something technology will never replace.”

Click PLAY for the full chat with Maurie Mulheron.