De Lima wants to regulate gadget use among students

Students using a cell phone for text messaging, Quezon City, Philippines. Bullit Marquez/AP
Students using a cell phone for text messaging, Quezon City, Philippines. Bullit Marquez/AP

MANILA –Sen. Leila de Lima is pushing a measure that would regulate the use of mobile phones and other electronic gadgets among students in private and public schools.

De Lima said she filed Senate Bill No. 1271, which aims to improve the academic performance and achieve academic excellence of the students.

“It is the duty of the State to provide students with a more focused, positive and supportive learning environment that is free from any distractions that prevent them from performing poorly in school,” De Lima said.

“Making life easier and more efficient are just some of the benefits brought about by the advancement of technology. However, excessive use of mobile devices can also lead to an array of negative effects and hazards,” she added.

“Regulating the use of mobile phones and other electronic gadgets in schools is one of the immediate solutions that the government can take to improve the learning conditions for our students and help them towards better performance in our schools,” she said.

According to the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), the Philippines ranked last among 79 countries in reading comprehension among 15-year-old students, with the country ending up below ranks 70 in mathematics and science.

De Lima also noted that a study which found out that unrestrained use of mobile phones poses risks to students, leading them to fare poorly in elementary and junior high school primarily due to lack of sleep that affects their concentration and retention.

“Other noted adverse effects include psychological and physiological complications, and mental health issues, which interfere with education, diminish academic performance, and contribute to increase in teenage anxiety, depression and suicide,” De Lima said.

Even if mobile phones and other electronic devices were useful in bringing higher quality teaching and learning, De Lima said that there is a need to balance student performance with integrating mobile devices in educational system.

Under De Lima’s SB No. 1271, the Department of Education is mandated to promulgate clear-cut guidelines regulating the use of mobile devices and other electronic gadgets in the schools.

“These guidelines shall likewise establish the procedure to be observed in cases of abuse of mobile devices and electronic gadgets in the commission of other student misconducts such as cheating and bullying, as well as promote the responsible use of mobile devices and electronic gadgets,” De Lima said./PN

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