UK implements total mobile phone ban across schools
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The UK's measure aims to enhance student behavior and concentration, minimize disruptions to lessons, and safeguard children from cyberbullying and anxiety.
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Illustrative: Children at a school in the UK. (AFP via Getty Images)
The UK Education Ministry announced, on Monday, a comprehensive ban on the use of mobile phones during the school day. This measure aims to enhance student behavior and concentration, minimize disruptions to lessons, and safeguard children from cyberbullying and anxiety.
The ministry has provided guidance for head teachers, teachers, and school staff, outlining instructions on implementing a ban on mobile phone use in schools.
"We are determined that all schools should prohibit the use of mobile phones throughout the school day – not only during lessons but break and lunchtimes as well," the guidance read.
Dive deeper
The guidance document outlined four potential scenarios for implementing the ban on mobile phones. These options include a complete prohibition, necessitating students to leave their devices at home; a requirement for students to surrender their phones to school staff upon arrival; an option involving secure storage during the school day, and a condition labeled as "never used, seen, or heard," allowing students to keep their devices accessible as long as they refrain from using them.
"Mobile phones risk unnecessary distraction, disruption, and diversion ... By removing mobile phones from the school day, we can create a safe space where pupils are protected from the risks and dangers associated with social media and cyber-bullying, as well as the peer pressure and possible stigma associated with owning what are often expensive devices," the document stressed.
Students found breaching the newly established regulations will be subjected to detention or may have their phones confiscated, as outlined in the guidance. Teachers are authorized to conduct searches of backpacks to locate such devices, while also being legally protected from potential lawsuits concerning the loss or damage of confiscated phones.
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