Will smartphones remain in schools: education ombudsman calls for changes
19 March 05:14
There is no legal ban on the use of mobile phones in schools in Ukraine, so educational institutions cannot legally restrict students from using gadgets. However, educational ombudsman Nadiya Leshchyk emphasized the need to establish clear rules for their use in the educational process, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
“I believe that security factors – the existence of martial law, the growing number of cases of abuse, violence against children – show us that mobile phones cannot be banned in educational institutions. At the same time, it is obvious that there should be certain rules for their use,” Leshchyk said.
She added that gadgets can be useful in the educational process, but they should not interfere with learning and distract students.
“If a student’s use of gadgets interferes with the educational process, in particular, distracts him or her or other students during the lesson, the teacher has the right to make comments and demand that the student stop interfering with the lesson,” Leshchyk said.
How can gadgets affect the learning process?
The Education Ombudsman notes that while mobile phones can be a useful tool in the classroom, their improper use poses certain risks.
The main problems associated with the use of gadgets in schools:
- Distractions from the lesson and impaired concentration.
- Decreased interpersonal communication among students.
- Formation of dependence on gadgets.
- Risks of academic dishonesty (for example, cheating during tests).
- Deterioration of children’s physical activity and health.
- Access to harmful content that can promote violent behavior.
“After all, children tend to imitate what they see, so unimpeded access to gadgets and violent content does not go unnoticed,” she said.
What do they propose to change?
The Education Ombudsman calls for the development of clear rules for the use of mobile phones in schools that will help balance their benefits and risks.
Leshchyk noted that, according to Article 23 of the Law of Ukraine “On Education,” schools have autonomy in making decisions about the organization of the educational process and have the right to establish internal rules aimed at ensuring the safety, order, and efficiency of the educational process. At the same time, since the use of gadgets is not regulated at the legislative level, this may cause legal difficulties in the introduction of such rules by educational institutions. This raises questions about where the student’s gadgets will be stored, who will be responsible for their safety, what are the legal grounds for confiscating gadgets, as they are the personal property of students, and other issues.
Earlier, the Educational Ombudsman Service drew attention to the need to develop uniform rules for the use of mobile phones in educational institutions and analyzed the experience of Germany, France, Poland, Sweden, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
