{"id":1007122,"date":"2026-06-05T13:33:23","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T13:33:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1007122\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T13:33:23","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T13:33:23","slug":"northern-ireland-schools-could-get-strengthened-guidance-on-use-of-smart-glasses-the-irish-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1007122\/","title":{"rendered":"Northern Ireland schools could get \u2018strengthened\u2019 guidance on use of \u2018smart glasses\u2019 \u2013 The Irish News"},"content":{"rendered":"

Plans are underway to strengthen guidance for Northern Ireland schools on the use of \u2018smart glasses\u2019 amid warnings they are prompting \u201cserious concerns around privacy and safeguarding\u201d, including in toilets and changing rooms.<\/p>\n

Stormont\u2019s Department of Education is to look into what support it can give schools on dealing with pupils in regards to the emerging technology<\/a> of glasses with built-in cameras.<\/p>\n

Known as smart glasses, the devices can appear as an ordinary pair of glasses, but can covertly capture images and video footage.<\/p>\n

Some models can also display data that the wearer can see without others knowing, which it has been warned could lead to an upsurge in exam cheating.<\/p>\n

\"Prominent<\/a>\"PSNI<\/a><\/p>\n

The best known version of the devices are produced by Facebook parent company Meta, but budget versions from rival companies can be purchased for as little as under \u00a330.<\/p>\n

The Department of Education<\/a> recently undertook a pilot scheme relating to problematic tech in classrooms, with a number of schools across the north taking part in providing magnetic pouches to store pupils\u2019 mobile phones during the day.<\/p>\n

Participating schools reported \u201chighly positive\u201d results<\/a>, and a report on the scheme is due this month.<\/p>\n

\"EducationEducation minister Paul Givan with St Ronan’s College Lurgan pupils, showing the pouches used by the school in a pilot scheme that ended in March <\/p>\n

Details of the department exploring new guidance on new tech including smart glasses has emerged following a question to Minister Paul Givan from SDLP MLA and Opposition education spokesperson Cara Hunter.<\/p>\n

She asked the minister to detail the department\u2019s current policy on the use of smart glasses in school settings.<\/p>\n

Mr Givan said his department\u2019s Circular 2024\/14 provides guidance on mobiles and similar devices, which advises personal use during the school day should be restricted for most pupils, including during lunch breaks.<\/p>\n

\u201cDevices such as smart glasses, including Meta Smart Glasses, which have the capability to connect to the internet and capture or transmit images, audio or data, fall within the definition of \u2018other similar devices\u2019 for the purposes of this guidance,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The minister said the expectation of restricted use \u201capplies equally to such emerging technologies\u201d. <\/p>\n

However, he added: \u201cI have asked officials to begin exploring how the current guidance might be strengthened and what further support can be offered to schools<\/a> in order to ensure that schools are implementing effective approaches to the use of mobile phones and similar devices during the school day. <\/p>\n

Read more: <\/b>Smart glasses will be future of computing, Meta executives say<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cOfficials plan to issue a survey to schools in the coming weeks to ascertain their views on this matter.<\/p>\n

\u201cSchools are expected to address any misuse of mobile phones and other similar devices through their behaviour and safeguarding policies, taking account of their potential impact on teaching and learning, privacy, and the safety and wellbeing of pupils and staff.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cara Hunter told The Irish News that she welcomed the guidance review, and highlighted how smart glasses misuse could have a deeper impact than that of smartphones.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike mobile phones, these devices can be a distraction in the classroom, but they also raise serious concerns around privacy and safeguarding,\u201d the East Derry MLA said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ability to record audio, video and images without the knowledge of other pupils, teachers or school staff presents clear risks, particularly in toilets, changing rooms and other private spaces, that schools must be equipped to manage.<\/p>\n

\u201cTechnology is evolving at a rapid pace and it is important that safeguards keep pace with it. Young people are often among the first to adopt new technologies, which is why schools need clear and robust guidance.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added: \u201cI welcome the minister\u2019s commitment and urge him to ensure schools have the support they need to prevent these devices being used in ways that disrupt learning or compromise the safety and privacy of others.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Plans are underway to strengthen guidance for Northern Ireland schools on the use of \u2018smart glasses\u2019 amid warnings…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1007123,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5011],"tags":[2266,1144,64806,857,80559,53,16,15],"class_list":["post-1007122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-northern-ireland","tag-education","tag-northern-ireland","tag-paul-givan","tag-schools","tag-smart-glasses","tag-technology","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116697760613326032","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1007122","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1007122"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1007122\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1007123"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1007122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1007122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1007122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}