The NSW opposition is pushing for a total ban on students having phones at school as a parliamentary inquiry into a chronic shortage of teachers hears from experts who agree with the proposal.
Labor says mobile phones are a distraction for pupils and something which is being reflected in academic performances.
It says compared to other countries in the Programme for International Student Assessment rankings, the state has slumped to 23rd in reading, 31st in maths and 23rd in science.
With less than two months until the NSW election, the phone ban is part of an opposition education platform also calling for the recruitment of 10,000 full-time teachers, cuts to their administrative workloads and the construction of more schools.
It has accused the Liberals and Nationals government of ignoring the fact schools "have endured chronic teacher shortages, merged or cancelled classes and declining education outcomes".
Labor leader Chris Minns on Thursday called the phone policy "a common sense" solution that Western Australia, Tasmania and South Australia had already implemented.
"This is a reform that is needed ... Children are more and more distracted during school hours," he told reporters.
"We're asking a 13-year-old kid to battle big technology - Facbeook, Tiktok and Instagram - and come out ahead.
"These devices are addictive and almost impossible to put down".
The renewed calls for the ban come as a parliamentary inquiry into teacher shortages continues.
MPs on Wednesday were told teacher resignation rates were for the first time outstripping retirements.
Tripling in the past two years, the number of vacancies for teachers in the state has grown to over 3300.
