Bill forbids mobile phones in class
A SENATOR filed a bill on Monday that forbids students from using their cell phones and other gadgets in class from Kindergarten to Senior High School to keep them focused on their lessons.
“Aside from the decrease in learners’ academic performance, access to such devices seems likely to mediate involvement in cyberbullying that is why the use of mobile devices and other electronic gadgets must be restricted, especially during class hours,” said Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, who filed Senate Bill No. 2706, the proposed Gadget-Free Schools Act.
Under the measure, the Department of Education is tasked to craft guidelines on banning cellphones during class hours in both private and public schools.
Mr. Gatchalian cited results from the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) that showed 8 in 10 students aged 15 years old were reported being distracted by smartphone use during class.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization recommended stricter regulation on mobile phone use in class, noting that only 13% of countries in the world have laws banning these during class hours. — John Victor D. Ordoñez