United Nations making the call to ban smartphones in schools

The United Nations’ education, science, and culture agency, Unesco is calling for smartphones to be banned in schools to improve learning, reduce disruptions, and protect learners from cyberbullying.

The agency revealed evidence in its report that shows that excessive smartphone use among learners was mostly linked to poor educational performance and impacted their emotional stability.

Unesco said digital technology, such as artificial intelligence, shouldn’t trump a “human-centred vision” of education and is not supposed to be a barrier to face-to-face interaction with educators.

“Not all change constitutes progress. Just because something can be done does not mean it should be done,” – the statement read.

The director general at Unesco, Audrey Azoulay, believes people should be calling for technology in education to be regulated, similarly to how they have called for it in society. The Guardian quoted Azoulay as saying: “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.”

“Its use must be for enhanced learning experiences and for the wellbeing of students and teachers, not to their detriment.” – the general added. She went on to emphasize that the needs of learners must be put first.

Azoulay also mentioned that online connections are no substitute for human interaction.

In the report, Unesco also cited wide-reaching international data which shows a negative link between excessive digital technology use and educational performance.

It also noted that although the use of technology in education can be beneficial, poorer students around the world don’t often see these benefits as they are effectively excluded.