76% of Filipinos support gadget ban in schools, commissioned survey shows

Seventy-six percent of Filipino adults nationwide are in favor of banning cellphones in schools, a survey commissioned by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian showed.

A Pulse Asia survey conducted from June 17 to 24 this year showed that only 13% disagree with the gadget ban in schools and 11% said they cannot say whether they agree or disagree.

The proposal to ban cellphones in schools got 80% support in the National Capital Region, 89% in Balanced Luzon, 61% in Visayas, and 81% in Mindanao.

Among the socioeconomic classes, the proposal got huge support from Classes ABC at 80%, Class D at 76%, and Class E with 71%.

The survey used a multi-stage probability sample of 1,200 adult respondents, 300 each from NCR, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The survey has a 95% level of confidence with a margin of error of +/- 3% at the total Philippines level and +/- 6% at the geographic area level.

The lawmaker noted that the survey showed that Filipinos see the benefits of imposing a gadget ban, especially because distraction from mobile phones in schools is linked to poorer learner performance.

“Malinaw na suportado ng ating mga kababayan ang ating panukala na ipagbawal ang paggamit ng mga cellphones sa mga paaralan, lalo’t na’t ang paggamit nito sa oras ng klase ay maaaring makapinsala sa kanilang pag-aaral. Kaya naman patuloy nating isinusulong ang panukalang batas na magbabawal sa paggamit ng cellphone sa oras ng klase,” Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate basic education committee, said.

(It is clear that our countrymen are supportive of our proposal to ban the use of cellphones in schools as its use during class hours may negatively affect the students' learning. That's why we continue to push for this law to prohibit the use of cellphones during class hours.)

Gatchalian then cited the Senate panel's analysis of the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) which found that eight out of 10 Filipino learners aged 15 reported being distracted in class by using their smartphones, while another eight out of ten reported being distracted by other students’ smartphone use.

In June, Gatchalian filed a bill prohibiting kindergarten to senior high school students and teachers in all public and private schools from using mobile phones and gadgets during class hours.

Under the proposed measure, all basic education students are prohibited to use phones and other electronic gadgets within the school premises during their 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.

Teachers and faculty members are likewise barred from using their gadgets during their designated teaching hours in classrooms.

The use of gadgets is only allowed for "learning-related exceptions, health and well-being related exceptions, and exceptions related to managing risks."—AOL, GMA Integrated News