From 1 May, the national prohibition on mobile phones must apply to the first eight school levels. At the same time, initiatives for digital education must be strengthened. According to a survey, most teachers surveyed support these plans: it supports a ban on mobile phones, but also states that students use smartphones to learn.
According to the survey of the Austrian Federal Verlag (ÖBV) and the Johannes Kepler University (JKU) Linz, 74 percent welcomes a mobile telephone ban in schools. The approval is especially high in compulsory schools, which will also be influenced by the national ban in the future. Teachers in higher schools see the subject of more differentiated and, among other things, point out that not all facilities have the necessary technical equipment to make digital education possible without smartphones. A total of 949 teachers were interviewed.
“Our results suggest that apart from the school type for the use of smartphones in the classroom, the perception of mobile phones is particularly decisive as a learning tool. If teachers and students see an advantage in it, they also use them in the classroom,” says Christoph Helm, head of the Research of the Department of Education Research). This investigates various faculties for the training of educators.
“Create meaningful rules”
Philipp Nussböck, director of the ÖBV, was critical of the planned prohibition: “It should not be about banning mobile phones from the schools, but creating sensible rules. Especially when no tablets or laptops are available, smartphones can be used specifically for the lessons (…).”
The national prohibition on mobile phones in the first eight school levels should apply from 1 May. Volks, Middle, Special Schools and AHS Sub-phase must become mobile telephone-free zones. Autonomous exceptions are possible. “This is therefore necessary to turn school into a place of concentration, performance and security,” said Education Minister Christoph Return (Neos). The digital devices would lead to more conflicts and distraction.
Certain autonomy continues to exist
The schools themselves decide exactly how the prohibition is implemented and where the mobile phones are stored during the school day. “We have to arm our children and young people, not believe everything and not follow everyone”
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
