The United Nations has raised concerns about using smartphones in schools and urged the countries to establish their guidelines to ensure technology never replaces traditional teacher-led instruction, rather it complements the pursuit of providing quality education for all.
A new global UNESCO report on technology in education, highlighting the lack of appropriate governance and regulation, recommended that smartphones should be banned from schools to tackle classroom disruption and improve learning.
The 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report, entitled “Technology in education: A tool on whose terms?”, was launched at a high-profile event in Montevideo, Uruguay, in collaboration with UNESCO, the Ministry of Education and Culture of Uruguay, and the Ceibal Foundation and was attended by 15 education ministers from around the world.
The report highlighted the detrimental impact of excessive mobile phone use on educational performance and how screen time can worsen children’s emotional stability, making them vulnerable to online bullying.
“The digital revolution holds immeasurable potential but, just as warnings have been voiced for how it should be regulated in society, similar attention must be paid to the way it is used in education,” said Unesco’s director general, Audrey Azoulay.
According to the Guardian, the educational, scientific, and cultural wing of the UN emphasized that digital technology, including artificial intelligence, should never take precedence over a “human-centered vision” of education.
The report urged policymakers to consider the “social dimension of education” and be cautious about increasing individualization, emphasizing that not all technological advancements necessarily translate to progress. It underscored the importance of striking a balance between incorporating technology and preserving the core principles of education.
Countries banning phone use in classrooms
Countries worldwide are implementing bans on phone use in classrooms due to concerns over data privacy, safety, and student well-being.
Studies in Belgium, Spain, and the UK reveal improved academic performance, especially among low-performing students, after banning mobile phones.
UNESCO’s analysis showed that nearly one in four countries globally has introduced such bans in laws or policies, with Central and Southern Asian countries like Bangladesh, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan leading the way. In Australia’s New South Wales and Tasmania, restrictions and prohibitions on mobile devices have been enforced in public schools. Other countries like France, Latvia, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the United States, Canada’s Ontario, and the UK’s Scotland also implemented full or partial bans. However, in South Korea, concerns have been raised that a complete ban could infringe on students’ basic rights, such as freedom of communication.
Netherlands to ban mobile phones in classrooms
Most recently, the Netherlands announced that starting January 1, 2024, there will be a ban on mobile phones, tablets, and smartwatches from classrooms, aiming to reduce distractions.
Exceptions will be made for essential educational purposes or students with disabilities or medical needs. The ban was agreed upon by the Education Ministry, schools, and related organizations.
Dutch Education Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf stated that despite mobile phones being integral to daily life, they do not belong in classrooms as they disrupt concentration and hinder effective studying.
“Students need to be able to concentrate and need to be given the opportunity to study well. Mobile phones are a disturbance, scientific research shows. We need to protect students against this,” he said in a statement.
Schools will have the autonomy to implement the ban according to their plans, but legal rules will apply if it is not enforced by the summer of 2024.