UNESCO recommends global ban on smartphones in schools

According to a report by UNESCO, the UN’s education, science, and culture agency, an endorsement has been made to ban smartphones from schools in order to address classroom disruptions, enhance learning outcomes, and safeguard children from cyberbullying. The report highlights evidence linking excessive mobile phone usage to decreased educational performance and negative impacts on children’s emotional well-being due to prolonged screen time.

UNESCO emphasises the importance of prioritising a “human-centered vision” of education, where digital technology, including artificial intelligence, should always be secondary to face-to-face interactions with teachers and not replace them. This call for a smartphone ban aims to create a conducive learning environment that encourages meaningful teacher-student interactions and fosters better academic and emotional development for children.

Further, UNESCO has cautioned policymakers about embracing digital technology without thoughtful consideration, stating that the perceived positive impact on learning outcomes and economic efficiency might be exaggerated, and that novelty does not necessarily equate to improvement. The report stresses that not all changes should be equated with progress, and just because something is possible doesn’t mean it should automatically be implemented.

As education increasingly shifts to online platforms, especially in universities, UNESCO reminds policymakers not to overlook the crucial “social dimension” of education, wherein face-to-face teaching plays a vital role. The report suggests that pushing for excessive individualisation might undermine the essence of education itself.