The Teachers' Dignity Coalition (TDC) backs the proposed law to ban the use of mobile devices and other electronic gadgets in schools during class hours.
However, rather than a total ban, TDC chairperson Benjo Basas pushes to regulate the use of mobile devices and other electronic gadgets during class hours.
Basas remarked on Tuesday, June 11, that mobile phones also have functions during class hours.
"We are not into the idea of banning it totally. Ang kailangan ay regulations kasi meron rin naman function ang mga cellphone, smartphones lalo na, sa mga pag-aaral kahti pa dito sa atin sa basic education," Basas said during DZRH's Damdaming Bayan
Basas pointed out that both teachers and learners benefit from mobile phones due to shift from traditional learning materials to electronic modules.
"Ang problem namin, ng mga teacher ngayon, ay wala na tayong mga libro kahit yung mga module, walang print-out na modules na binibigay ang ating Department of Education," Basas shared.
"With the use of smartphones and cellphones, nababawasan yung aming preparations, necessary preparations," he added.
Basas called for a study in order to evaluate whether students will benefit more in banning the use of mobile phones and electronic gadgets or in allowing the use of such devices.
"Ngayon mas magdali ang magbasa, mag-research, maghanap nung mga material, unlike before na talagang pupunta ka sa library. Kung nandoon yung ating framework, mas madali," Basas remarked
"Pero kung yung ating framework ay turuan yung bata ng disiplina, ng sipag, ng hardwork mas nandoon tayo sa traditional," he said.
Basas also mentioned that the Department of Education (DepEd) already issued an order in 2003 that bans elementary and high school students from using cellular phones and pagers during class hours.
"Kailangan natin na sundin iyan but case to case basis iyan," he explained.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian filed Senate Bill No. 2706, or the Electronic Gadget-Free Schools Act, that mandates the DepEd to promulgate guidelines on the prohibition of mobile devices and electronic gadget use within school premises during class hours.
The proposed ban will cover kindergarten to senior high school students as well as teachers in both public and private basic education institutions.
Gatchalian noted that the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) showed that smartphone use, even by other students, distracts eight out of 10 learners, with ages 15 years old, in class.
The senator added that the PISA results also reveal that distraction due to smartphone use during class also correlates with a decrease in performance of about 9.3 points in mathematics, 12.2 points in science, and 15.04 points in reading.
