Senator Win Gatchalian wants to propose a bill banning phones in classes
Senator Sherwin "Win" Gatchalian is considering filing a bill that would totally ban students from using phones during class hours in school.
This proposed measure will affect students in elementary and senior high school, who won't be allowed to be on their mobile devices until they're dismissed.
"Isa sa mga observation, hindi lang dito sa atin ha—pati sa ibang bansa, na marami sa ating mga bata talagang nalululong na sa paggamit ng cellphone even sa loob ng classroom," Gatchalian said in a Kapihan sa Senado forum on April 25.
"Dapat nagbabasa sila, pero nanonood ng YouTube, nanonood ng TikTok," he added. "Pinag-aaralan ko ngayon 'yung i-ban na 'yung sa mga bata lang, 'yung paggamit ng cellphone sa loob ng classroom at sa loob ng school hours."
In 2019, a similar bill was filed by San Jose del Monte City Rep. Rida Robes House Bill 5542 seeking to ban mobile phones in all public and private schools.
In addition to this, the senator, who is also the chair of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, wants to declare the month of November as National Reading Month.
During this month, students will be required to buy a book to read.
In July 2023, UNESCO recommended that phones be banned in schools as its 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report found that the gadgets distracted students in 14 countries.
The report also stated that technology can "support some learning in some contexts, but not when it is over-used or inappropriately used."
Countries that have banned the use of smartphones in classes include France, Finland, China, Italy, Netherlands, and Portugal.