Should schools ban students from carrying mobiles to class?
Blanket ban not necessarily the ideal answer, educator says
Many school leaders in the UAE agree mobile phones have no place in class after France banned phones at school.
However, some educators and experts believe phones should not be banned at school.
Last week, as the new school term started, a new law went into effect in France banning children’s phones from all state middle schools.
Yesterday, school principals in the UAE told Gulf News that mobile phones were a distraction and stood by the ban.
Private schools here can set their own policy on mobile phones of students. Some ban their use totally and confiscate the device if found; others allow phones under certain conditions.
Brendon Fulton, principal of Dubai British School, said student engagement has improved following a phone ban at the school.
Brendan Law, Vice-President-Education, GEMS Education, said a blanket ban was not necessarily the ideal answer.
Law said: “It is important that schools take a stance in the best interests of the students, and in our group of schools the principals and their teams decide on the best policy as such.”
Following a government ban on mobile phones in schools in France, schools in the UAE have explained their stand on the issue, with most educators not in favour of students bringing phones to class.
Private schools here are free to set their own rules on mobile phone use by students. Most schools have a total ban on students’ phones and confiscate them if found; others allow them under certain conditions.
Last week, as school started, a new law went into effect in France, banning children’s phones from all state middle schools. On Sunday, Brendon Fulton, Dubai British School’s principal, said it makes sense to keep phones out of class.
“Following considerable research in the area, we are 100 per cent convinced that this is the right move. Studies show that just having a mobile phone out on the desk whilst working can cause enough distraction to disrupt meaningful learning,” he said in a statement.
“As the school also has a BYOD [Bring Your Own Device] policy, students have no academic need for their mobile phones. We also strongly believe that students should be interacting with their peers during break times, rather than engaged with technology.”
BYOD is a common practice in many schools where students are asked to bring their laptops or other devices for a particular lesson or test.
‘No student discontent’
Fulton conceded that there had been some reservations regarding the ban, but the move is paying dividends. “Although students were initially resistant to the move to ban mobile phone use, we have had no lingering discontent. Parents have been very supportive of the move. Student engagement has improved steadily. Some have spoken openly about how liberating it is to not worry about social media during the school day,” he said.
Professor M. Abu Bakr, principal of Scholars Indian School in Ras Al Khaimah, said students at the school have to notify the reception that they are carrying a phone, and have a written consent from parents.
“The reception keeps the phone till the end of school hours. After school hours, it is the student’s responsibility to use the phone. If we find the student has not notified the reception or the class teacher, we confiscate the phone and inform the parent,” Abu Bakr said.
Safety concern
“Our main concern with mobile phones is that students can use them to exchange messages discreetly with strangers, without their parents’ consent or school’s knowledge. Sometimes, a stranger can get hold of the student’s number and try to contact him or her,” he added.
Abu Bakr also said phones were “a distraction” at school. The school has a BYOD programme that allows students to use laptops for certain exams or lessons, he pointed out.
‘Empower children’
Mobile phones are also banned at Credence High School, Dubai. Deepika Thapar Singh, principal of the CBSEcurriculum school in Al Khail, said: “The CBSE board clearly states no mobiles”.
Singh added: “At the same time, you have to keep up with technology and empower children to use it. We have a BYOD policy which allows larger, more visible devices like laptops and tabs for students to learn independently — over a secure, safe Wi-Fi network.”
Though she believes mobile phones “don’t add to learning”, it was “also important to tell students why” they are stopped from using phones at school, Singh noted. “Once you explain the reasons, they agree with us.” In Sharjah, Rafia Zafar Ali, principal of Leaders Private School, said: “If you let students bring in phones but then say, ‘don’t chat or play games’, they don’t like it. It’s better not to have them in the first place.”
Phones welcome
Mobile phones do have a place in the classroom, said Brendan Law, Vice President of Education, GEMS Education.
Speaking on behalf of the British Premium Cluster of 14 schools he leads across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (Menasa) region, Law said: “It is important that schools take a stance in the best interests of the students. In our group of schools, the principals and their teams decide on the best policy as such. For some, it might mean limiting access to mobiles during school hours, with the use of other devices such as laptops and tablets for BYOD access, for research.”
“For others, mobile phones are used as an integral part of the curriculum in a number of creative ways. All our schools embrace technology and the latest tools of innovation in education,” he added.