An important and necessary information has been revealed in the current report of the United Nations. The report said that smartphones should be banned in schools immediately. It is said that banning smartphones in schools will ensure discipline in the classroom and prevent children from being disturbed online. According to media reports, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has called for a ban on mobile phones in schools.
UNESCO said that spending too much time in front of the screen is starting to affect the mental state of children. Be it paying, booking, using social media, or searching for educational resources. It is difficult to function without a smartphone in this age.
The total number of smartphone users worldwide
According to Statistica, the total number of smartphone users worldwide is expected to reach more than 525 crore by the year 2028. According to UNESCO Director Andre Ajol, the contribution of smartphones in the digital age is significant. This is the reason why today children are addicted to mobile phones, laptops, computers.
According to him, children should learn to live with and without technology. In this UNESCO report, the problems arising from digital learning have been mentioned. During the corona epidemic, 50 crore children were deprived of education. After that more focus was only on online learning. Emphasis was placed on studying through internet for better connectivity with students.
A target has been set to connect schools to the Internet by 2030 to further enhance digital learning. Meanwhile, a UNESCO report claims that smartphone use is now distracting students from pre-primary to higher education in 14 countries. It can take 20 minutes to learn again after one distraction.
The report, from Colombia to Ivory Coast and from Italy to the Netherlands, children in every fourth country in the world have been banned from using smartphones. Both France and Denmark have banned Google Workspace. Similarly, the use of smartphones has been banned in Bangladesh and Singapore.
Educationists have backed Goa’s Information and Technology Minister Rohan Khunte’s statement, in which he appealed to parents not to treat their children’s smartphones as prizes. Educationists believe that excessive use of smartphones etc. should be banned, but some parents say that it is mandatory in this age of online classes. Citing a recent survey, it was said that mobile phone addiction is having a serious impact on children.
He said, “We should stop taking smartphones as a reward for children. They should state that this is only a tool to deal with the restrictions of the Kovid-19 pandemic on the regular schooling system.” Responding to this, noted educationist Narayan Desai told PTI-Bhasha, overuse and misuse of tools by students. That is something we need to face.
Parents are consulting psychologists
Parents and students cannot stay away from devices completely as the New Education Policy (NEP) talks about using multimedia and making the child a self-learner, he said.
Sanchita Pai Raikar, a resident of Goa, said that since online education has become the norm, children have their own devices. There is almost zero parental control over this. His son is studying in fifth standard. Former Head of Goa Unit of Indian Medical Association (IMA) Dr. Shekhar Salkar said that many parents are consulting psychologists on how to reduce the use of mobile phones by children.
He said, “Everyone agrees that there is a need for digital detoxification. It is good that the idea is coming from the government, but who will actually do it is a question.” The Goa Technology Association (GTA), an association of various technology-related industries, said the minister had raised a valid point.
GTA president Milind Anwekar claims that winning video games and getting ‘likes’ on pictures releases the pleasure-inducing chemical dopamine in the brain. Its effect is similar to that of drinking alcohol or using drugs. Over time, we crave this dopamine release, which compels us to use technology and internet-enabled devices more. He also said that it is not fair to blame only the children, because they are seeing and understanding that the phone is the most important thing, and it is up to the parents to set the right example for the children.
If your child watches too much mobile, they are more likely to develop tumors. A research has found that children can develop tumors due to the radiation emitted from mobile phones. Also, children can get brain tumors due to mobile phones.
Disturbances in mental development
The use of mobile phones creates obstacles in the mental development of children. Children are not interested in any other activity due to spending hours on mobile. At the same time, because of mobiles, they do not even mix with anyone else. Due to which the mental condition of children also starts to deteriorate.
Neurological disorder
Mobiles can cause neurological disorders in children. A study has found that children are at risk of developing neurological disorders due to mobile phone radiation. Thus the disorder affects the child’s ability to walk, breathe and learn a new task.
Change in children’s habits
Children’s habits begin to change due to their continuous use of mobile phones. Because of the mobile, the child does not pay attention to any other work. If you take the mobile from him, he starts crying and insists on persuading himself.
The problem of depression is bothering
Due to excessive use of mobile phones, the child suffers from the problem of depression. At the same time, the nature of children starts to become angry. Due to constant use of mobile, the child starts to get angry. Simultaneously, depression also starts to increase in the child.
Try these tips to kick your child’s mobile habit
Take the child outside to play. Always asking him to play at home makes him bored at home.
Spend time with the child. Often the child gets busy with the mobile phone when he is left alone.
Get the child interested in painting, dancing and other activities.
If the child cries, give a toy instead of a mobile phone.
Conclution
UNESCO in its education report says that mobile phone has become a necessity of daily life. Smartphones should be used for the good of students and teachers along with better learning, not to their detriment. According to him, children should learn to live with and without technology.