Maharashtra: Mobile ban good, but more needs to be done, says educationists

Was the governmentrsquos decision to ban mobile phones in schools made in haste The Parent Teacher Association PTAUnited Forum points to the crucial fact that children can access online content outside of schools Principals midday spoke to favour the ban but feel there is a need to sensitise children to cyber safetyArundhati Chavan president of PTAUnited Forum said ldquoOur government chose to ban mobile phones in schools just because someone asked to or mentioned how the Internet is causing sexual offences among students and distracting them from their studies However has the government discussed this with the experts counsellors or other stakeholders including parents ldquoWhat good is this ban if children can access phones beyond the school premisesrdquoSchool principals believe that students should be made aware of the benefits and harms of technology Representation picChavan said something else would be more efficient and ensure that children are away from the unnecessary online content during school years ldquoParents should not give children mobile phones at a young age If for some reason parents must give their child a phone they should not opt for a smartphone as the purpose is to make calls and send text messages I am not against the decision just that I feel this is a decision made in haste without giving any serious thought to itrdquoAlso Read Maharashtra Mobile ban in schools to curb sexual crimes says Devendra FadnavisSapna Shah a parent from Malad praised the government for the ban She said ldquoChildren are nowadays only interested in checking social media platforms and how many likes and shares they have got Because of easy access to the internet on the phone many children pick up slang words and foul languagerdquoEducate childrenThe head of schools believe that students should be made aware of the benefits and harms of technology ldquoWith great technology comes great responsibilityrdquo said Principal Radhika Sinha of Aditya Birla World Academy ABWA ldquoHaving easy access to a mobile phone and the Internet can have its benefits as well as drawbacks It is important for parents as well as schools to observe and be watchful of the devicersquos use by children In todayrsquos digital world it becomes imperative that we make children responsible for how they use these gadgetsrdquo she addedPrincipal Radhika Sinha of Aditya Birla World Academy ABWAABWA does not allow students of Std VIX to carry mobile phones to school she said adding ldquoIf there is a genuine requirement and the parent has consented we have in place a system whereby students deposit the phone with school security in the morning and collect it while leavingrdquo ldquoThe students of Std XI and XII are allowed to bring their phones and the onus is on them to be mindful of its usage They are not permitted to use the phone within the campus unless permitted by the teacher for a valid reasonrdquo Sinha explained The academy conducts regular sessions on cybersafety and technology addictions to help students become aware of the perils of technology overuse she saidlsquoWonrsquot eradicate crimersquoPrincipal Madhu Wadke of Gopi Birla Memorial School Malabar Hill said the ban is a bold step that will help maintain discipline and order ldquoStudents will have no distractions which in turn will result in better grades However this will not eradicate crimes as cyberbullying also often occurs outside of school hours and premisesrdquoThe school allows phones in case of a special request so that the ldquoworking parents can track their wards after school to ensure that they are saferdquo Wadke also believes in responsible use of technology as it ldquohas many pedagogical and learning advantages We must teach students to learn how to use technology responsibly The need of the hour is to know how to balance the benefits and risks of technology in the way that best supports the studentsrdquo Wadke saidPrincipal G Vani Reddy of RBK International School said she fully supports the governmentrsquos decision ldquoWe understand that technology and mobile phones are crucial parts of our lives However schools provide the required technology for studentsrsquo educational needs and phones are not needed to meet curricular outcomesrdquo she addedShe said ldquoBanning cell phones at school is extremely crucial to aid the teachinglearning process It will also help in addressing the growing concerns of its misuse in and around schools its effects on mental health and in maintaining schools as a safe and orderly space for learning and reducing educational inequality among studentsrdquo Reddy said the ban would be beneficial only if all stakeholders strictly adhere to the rulesldquoItrsquos a known fact that the presence of cell phones in classrooms could affect studentsrsquo academic performances and contribute to higher rates of academic dishonesty and cyberbullying There will be a negative impact on student behaviour learning and wellbeingrdquo Reddy addedWhat students sayA Std IX student from a school in south Mumbai said ldquoThere was a time when everyone blamed TV for childrenrsquos behaviour Did they manage to stop or ban television If we are not allowed mobile phones at school will they monitor our cell phone usage outside Just because something happened somewhere not all the schoolchildren should be penalised Both my parents are working and I need a cell phone to communicate with them especially in times of dire needrdquoA student of a First Year Junior College does not have a smartphone but a basic one for calls The youngster recalled ldquoIn our school we were asked to submit our cell phones before getting inside the classroom I got my first mobile phone when I was in Std VII My parents do not give us internet access Even now I have a basic cell phone even today so I can access my social media platforms only when I am at home where I have access to a computerrdquo