Gadgets should be regulated, not banned in schools —teachers group

The Teachers' Dignity Coalition (TDC) on Wednesday called for a strict regulation on the use of mobile phones and other gadgets during class hours, instead of totally banning them.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, TDC chairperson Benjo Basas explained that smartphones provide benefits in the learning process of students, as they can be used for research and accessing modules and other learning materials even while in school.

“Kung sakaling magkakaroon ng ban in the use of cellphones or electronic gadgets sa school, dapat hindi total ban. Dapat ito’y regulation, strict regulation at that,” he said.

(If cellphones or electronic gadgets will be prohibited in school, they should not be totally banned. There should only be regulation and strict regulation at that.)

“Cellphone is a super gadget. Lahat nandito na (it has everything),” he added.

Basas made the remark after Senate basic education committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian filed Senate Bill 2706 or the proposed Electronic Gadget-Free Schools Act, prohibiting kindergarten to senior high school students and teachers in all public and private schools from using electronic gadgets within the school premises during class hours.

School premises in SB 2706 include classrooms, laboratories, bathrooms, gymnasiums, canteens or cafeterias, school club rooms, swimming pools, teachers' lounges, and school offices.

In filing the measure, Gatchalian noted the negative effects of excessive use of mobile devices to learners' performance. He also said that access to such devices "seems likely to mediate involvement in cyberbullying."

For TDC, Basas said that the Department of Education (DepEd) already has existing rules when it comes to the use of mobile devices and gadgets. He said that these rules only need to be implemented well and be reviewed, if necessary. —KG, GMA Integrated News