Tackling technology side effects: Govt crackdown on mobile phones in England schools
Technology
Educational institutions will receive new guidance on the issue
LAHORE/LONDON (Web Desk) – Mobile phones are a necessity but also a nuisance, especially when it comes to children or even parents who can’t leave their handsets while spending time with their family members in the evening.
Imagine a desperate child trying to share his or her problems, but the father or the mother or the both are busy in chatting with friends or relatives using a variety of apps available through the mobile phones.
However, situation can worsen if a wife isn’t able to get the required attention from her husband the sole aim is to narrate the entire day’s story or list the regularly updated demands.
Similarly, some workers can’t escape their bosses who continue bombarding them with calls and messages even after the office hours. Barring a few countries like France and Spain, there is no escaping.
But an overwhelming majority agree on limiting the mobile phones use by children. In this connection, the government is set to prohibit the mobile phone use in schools across England “as part of the government’s plan to minimise disruption and improve behaviour in classrooms”.
The move comes as latest UK government data finds around a third (29pc) of secondary school pupils reported mobile phones being used when they were not supposed to in most, or all, lessons.
A government press release says a new guidance regarding mobile phones in schools issued on Monday backs headteachers in prohibiting the use of mobile phones throughout the school day, including at break times.
“The move will bring England in line with steps taken by other countries who have restricted mobile phone use including France, Italy and Portugal.”
Many schools around the country are already prohibiting mobile phone use with great results. This guidance will ensure there is a consistent approach across all schools.
“By the age of 12, 97 per cent of children have their own mobile phone, according to Ofcom. Using mobile phones in schools can lead to online bullying, distraction and classroom disruption which, in turn, can lead to lost learning time,” it added.
It also cited UNSECO which last year called for smartphones to be banned from schools as evidence showed it was linked to reduced educational performance and that excessive screen time had a negative impact on children’s wellbeing.
Schools will be supported to prohibit mobile phone use with examples of different approaches including banning phones from the school premises, handing in phones on arrival at school, and keeping phones securely locked away at school.
The guidance will respond to concerns from parents about mobile phones, with the latest data from ParentKind’s National Parent Survey, revealing that 44pc of parents are concerned about the amount of time their children spend on electronic devices, rising to 50pc of parents of secondary school children.
In his remarks, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said, “Schools are places for children to learn and mobile phones are, at a minimum, an unwanted distraction in the classroom.”
According to Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan, growing up in today’s digital world provides immense opportunities but this should not come at the expense of our children’s wellbeing or education.
“That is why we have passed world leading legislation to make the UK the safest place in the world for young people to be online.”
Lead behaviour advisor to the department Tom Bennett said there was a strong and growing understanding of how damaging they can be for a child’s social and educational development.
