Should pupils carry cell phones to school?

One parent mused at how his 10-year-old son has been pestering for a cellular phone. Not only did he wonder about his son’s intentions, he also pondered on whether he would know how to use it without any academic distraction.

In the end, we never found out whether Junior finally got his wish. This, however, ignited a debate on whether cellular phones by pupils were an asset or a distraction.

Fourteen-year-old Nathaniel Phiri (not real name) goes to one of the reputable private schools in Blantyre. He says his school disallows mobile phones but lately, it seemed everybody was carrying one.

“I am talking about the latest state- of-the-art gadgets. We have access to computers in our school so these phones are not for research. They are simply brought so we can out shine each other. They are mostly sneaked into school,” said Nathaniel.

With the influx of the ever changing technology, pupils are under pressure to own a gadget, for they also exert pressure on parents to buy. Should students be allowed mobile phones?

Baby Center, an online child development monitor notes that the devices are becoming more and more commonplace — even in elementary schools.

“Any child with a mobile phone ought to be mature enough not to misplace or lose it. If you choose to buy a cellular phone for any child under 18, look into models with controls built in so you can monitor spending and how the phone is used.

“Generally, a child this age has little use for a cell. They tend to be more interested in the games on it than texting friends or calling anybody. A cell phone is best reserved for young children who have a need to reach their parents and cannot any other way. Otherwise, children this age are almost always under adult supervision and do not need a phone of their own,” says Baby Center.

Head teacher of Rawo private Secondary school in Dedza Adwel Dzombelagwa thinks that they cannot stop their students from using mobile phones at school because with changing times, cellular phones are inevitable.

“Students can use cell phones in school but not when the lesson is in progress because they use the same phones to communicate with their parents, find information on the Internet which also facilitates their studies.

“In the past, many schools used to ban this tendency but not this time. Otherwise we may end up encouraging our pupils to smuggle these gadgets. I would like to believe that these phones do not necessarily affect students’ studies, in particular those who genuinely seek education. There are others who care less about school and would be distracted even without gadgets,” he said.

However, child psychologist Stafford Simkonda says whatever children learn in their early stages of development forms their integral being and becomes difficult to change. He said this also affects their adulthood.

He observed that the use of cellular phones in school encourages bad behaviours as some students get busy with the gadgets while the lesson is in progress; hence, deprives them the chance to learn to do things at the appropriate place and time.

“I think teachers and parents have roles to monitor but pupils themselves have the biggest role to make sure that they avoid using cellular phones while in school. It is important that parents restrict their children from carrying cellular phones to school.

“Some students communicate with boy and girl friends during classes, a practice that does more harm on both their education performance and behavioural change,” Simkonda said.

He says it was the responsibility of schools to communicate to parents on pupils’ behalf.

“The problem is that some private schools are just business oriented so they allow their students to carry phones to school so as to have more business. This is why many private schools do not restrict cellular phones and even dressing is unchecked,” he said.

Elinati Chimono, head teacher at Mchuchu Primary School in Lilongwe says it is the responsibility of teachers to monitor how learners behave and conduct themselves because they act as parents at school.

“And there is no way we condone the use of cellular phones at school. It disturbs their studies as they are always busy with their gadgets. It psychologically affects how they respond to issues.

“Let students concentrate on studies first. They will enjoy later. It is also important for students to demonstrate seriousness with their education and realise the need to wait or use the gadgets outside school to avoid distractions,” she said.