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Lanon Wee

Warning of Potential Risk of Allowing Students to Use Smartphones in School

The United Nations has cautioned about the potential hazards of smartphones in schools, noting that only technology aiding in education should be accepted in schools. Unesco, the UN's education, science and culture agency, has highlighted mobile devices as potentially causing distraction, compromising pupil privacy and promoting cyber-bullying. Only around a quarter of countries have imposed prohibitions on the use of cell phones in schools, as per the report. In the UK, head teachers are responsible for setting the regulations, however, there are generally limits to what is accepted in most schools. Manos Antoninis, the writer of the 2023 Global Education Monitor report, informed the BBC that their research found "examples of smartphone utilization in school that divert pupils from learning and simultaneously enhance their privacy dangers". He emphasized that technology which aids education is the only type that's worthy of being included in a school. Mr Antoninis indicated that students should not be kept away from technology in its entirety, but rather that nations should be providing more precise advice on the tech which may be employed in school. Several investigations have demonstrated that prohibiting cell phones in schools enhances academic achievement, according to the report. Lexi, aged 16, reported that her prior head teacher permitted mobile phones to be used for learning in school, but noted that pupils tended to exploit them for social media usage or, in some cases, both. She contended that despite the potential for smartphones to be utilized for bullying, they can also serve to foster a feeling of closeness. It is evident that phones can have a negative bearing on individuals who are being victimized and their psychological well-being. However, when it comes to psychological health, phones may also provide a beneficial social connection. She informed the BBC that people should have the privilege of talking to someone if they are going through a tough period. In 2021, Gavin Williamson, who was at the time the Secretary of State for Education, proposed that mobile phones should be outlawed in schools in England. However, according to the Department for Education’s present instructions, it is the responsibility of the head teacher to determine whether students may use mobile phones during school hours. Although granting access to cell phones in schools provides potential benefits, it also carries with it a variety of risks, including being a distraction, causing disorder, and facilitating bullying and misuse. These factors could have an adverse impact on the learning process. According to DfE guidance, head teachers should think about limiting or banning the use of mobile phones in order to lower the risks associated with them. In June, according to a BBC Newsround Report, a parents association in Ireland set up a voluntary ban of smartphones for children in the home or at school within eight primary schools. When asked by Newsround, a 14-year-old who had recently obtained a phone for the first time declared it was "ridiculous" to give phones to kids as young as eight years old. Some parents impose limits on phones, while others do not, resulting in the possibility of being exposed to highly inappropriate content. Some argued against the banning of mobile phones in the home, asserting that they were helpful in getting in touch with parents. In 2017, Bangladesh prohibited both students and faculty in schools and colleges from having mobile phones in classrooms. France also prohibits the use of mobile phones in schools, however, certain student groups, such as those with disabilities, or cases in which smartphones are necessary for teaching, can be exempted. Next year, the Netherlands will prohibit the use of mobile phones, tablets, and smartwatches in secondary school classrooms for the most part. Sarah Hannafin, head of policy at NAHT, a school leaders' union, expressed that while a ban on mobiles might prove effective in some cases, in others it may lead to additional issues that were not there before. Notably, it could result in pupils becoming more discreet about their phone usage, hiding any potential problems from staff, making them harder to detect and tackle. Pupils may have practical reasons for needing a mobile phone, such as when they are commuting to and from school. She mentioned that schools aided in getting younger individuals ready for the real world, such as controlling their usage of digital devices. Schools that have individual pupils and a community connection are in the perfect position to develop their own mobile phone policies.

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