UN pushes to ban smartphones from schools worldwide; 'Put learners first'

United Nations, in a report on Wednesday, has warned against the overuse of technology like smartphones and computers in education across schools worldwide. The benefits the smartphones "disappear" when they’re used excessively and without parents' or teachers' supervision, the UN argued, as the agency called for a global ban of phones from classrooms to felicitate better learning among the students. 

UNESCO, the UN's education, science and culture agency, also backed prohibiting the use of phones at school, arguing that such a move would improve learning as well as protect the students against bullying. UN, in its report, said that there is increasing evidence that excessive mobile phone use is linked to poor performance, and learning among students. It stressed that the high levels of screen time also negatively impacts the emotional stability of the students. According to the UN, the use of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) must not supersede the  "human-centred vision" of learning in schools. The face-to-face interaction for teachers as well as students is exceedingly important, the agency said. 

"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," UNESCO director general, Audrey Azoulay, said in a statement on Wednesday. 

'Keep the needs of the learner first, support teachers': UNESCO 

UNESCO analysed the data from at least 200 education systems around the world and found that one in six countries had banned smartphones in schools and the decision had proven to be beneficial for student learning and the overall educational environment. "Its (smartphones)  use must be for enhanced learning experiences and for the wellbeing of students and teachers, not to their detriment. Keep the needs of the learner first and support teachers. Online connections are no substitute for human interaction," said UNESCO director general.

The latest country to ban the devices in schools is the Netherlands. Dutch schools prohibited phones, tablets and smartwatches in classrooms beginning in January 2024 in an effort to encourage students to pay attention during their classes. Dutch government argued that the rule was instated so that the pupils in the school were not distracted from the lessons. A 2023 UNESCO GEM report warns that while at times the technology in schools may prove to be beneficial to students’ learning, it can also have a detrimental impact if used uncontrollably and excessively. UNESCO is now warning other nations to consider banning the phones, arguing, “Not all change constitutes progress. Just because something can be done does not mean it should be done."