Smartphones in Schools

Why in the News?

The UNESCO recently recommended a Universal ban on smartphones in the schools citing its potential of its negative impacts on Students’ learning outcomes.

Over 1.2 billion people in India use mobile phones, with nearly 600 million smartphone users, which is expected to cross a billion by 2026.

Need for Smartphones in the digital era for school students:

1. Enhanced learning experience through audio- and video-based learning.
2. A differently abled students who struggle in a traditional, in-person sitting classroom can get benefited from the option of technological assistance.
3. Offered non-disruptive classrooms vis online learning programmes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
4. It can be used by students to reach out to the parents or guardians in urgent situations and enable parental supervision.

Negatives impacts of smartphones on children:

1. Leads to classroom disruption as students are tempted to check notifications.
2. Diverts students from performing productive purposes due to their over indulgence in playing games and engagement on social media.
3. It can lead to complete decline of focus on academic tasks.
4. Threats of Cyber bullying and online harassment.
5. Hinders concentration and social skills
6. Can be addictive in nature, thus affecting the mental well-being of the students.
7. Raises disparity among students belonging to various socio-economic backgrounds and those with limited resources might feel left out or stigmatised.
8. The presence of mobile phones increases the risk of theft and schools may struggle to maintain/ manage security.
9. Risk to children’s Privacy and well-being.

Way forward:

1. Minimum use of mobile phones in the school environment to enable a more meaningful learning environment.
2. Restrictions has to be placed based on proper research rather than complete ban of smartphones as
   1. Students have access to it and parents are also providing them with smartphones.
   2. Digitalisation of education through online learning programmes, National Education Policy emphasising digital classrooms and state curriculum giving QR codes for additional resources in text books holds relevance to the use of smartphones.
3. Age-based restrictions for students to use smartphones in schools can be implemented in which the question of age-appropriateness needs to be addressed effectively through proper Research.
4. UNESCO has urged policy-makers to formulate Child data protection laws as there is danger of data leaks in educational tech, as only 16 per cent of countries guarantee data privacy in the classroom, by law. 
5. A digital divide can be addressed with the help of laptops, tablets and iPads and not necessarily smartphones.
6. The Adults especially parents need to be sensitised about the right usage of smartphones and monitoring the usage of smartphones by their children.

Link: Should there be a blanket ban on smartphones in schools? - The Hindu