Created on: 15 Aug 2024 | Last modified: 19 Aug 2024
The EIS has noted today’s publication by the Scottish Government of national Mobile Device Guidance for Scotland’s schools.
Misuse of mobile devices in schools is a serious issue, and the EIS welcomes the intent behind the new national guidance.
Commenting, EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said, “The misuse of mobile phones and other mobile devices in schools is a serious issue, and one that has grown steadily in recent years. The misuse of such devices to abuse or bully pupils or staff is absolutely unacceptable and it is right that we continue to seek solutions to this problem.
"The impact on learning and teaching, and on the health and wellbeing of students and staff, of mobile device abuse can be devastating and must be tackled quickly and decisively wherever and whenever it arises.”
Ms Bradley continued, “Most schools across the country will already have their own guidance in place and the EIS would expect, in the context of an empowered school, that schools, parents, teachers and pupils would all be involved in the development of policy – to agree what the appropriate use of mobile phones should be for their particular school.”
Ms Bradley added, “The EIS is clear that any use of mobile phones in schools should be based on a sound educational rationale, informed by teacher professional judgement with due regard to equity.
"The reality is that the use of personal mobile devices has increased due to the paucity of digital devices and lack of investment in the IT infrastructure of schools. Implementation of the national guidance should therefore be accompanied by investment of necessary resources to ensure that pupils who may not have access to Smart phones or data are not disadvantaged.”
She continued, “Recent reports have referenced the impact that excessive screen time can have on children and young people’s learning, especially their reading skills and this must be taken into account when determining local policies on the use of any screen-based devices, including phones.
"The EIS is also clear that education is fundamentally based on relationships formed and built through human interaction, and would wish to see priority given to human-centred learning, rather than to ‘digital by default’ approaches as might otherwise be the temptation because of the ready availability of digital devices and the various capacities that they offer.
"We want our young people to be well connected to other human beings cognitively, socially and emotionally rather than being hooked far too often to their mobile phones.”