Not in the classrooms, not in the corridors, not in the gym, not in the laboratory, not on the football pitch, not in the toilets, not in the secretary's office and, of course, not in the headmaster's office either... The British Government plans to completely ban the use of mobile phones in English schools, without exception and at all educational stages.
The idea, raised by Education Minister Gillian Keegan at the Conservative Party's annual conference in Manchester, has been met with enormous skepticism by the teachers' and educators' union. Not because the objective is valid, but because of the enormous difficulties in implementing the measure and the fact that the vast majority of schools already have their provisions in this regard.
In order to clearly differentiate its policies from those of the Labor opposition in the face of next year's elections, the Tory Government of Rishi Sunak has taken advantage of the congress to launch a flurry of initiatives in all fields. In educational matters, he proposes to establish an English high school, make mathematics compulsory until the age of eighteen and ban mobile phones in line with the recommendations of a United Nations report that says they encourage school and sexual harassment, harm stability children and adolescents, and negatively affect learning.
"The ban suggested by the Government would raise more problems than it solves - points out Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the main teachers' union in Great Britain -. It would be a police-class measure, difficult to implement except if each and every student was searched or if they were made to pass through security as if it were an airport. Many parents also feel the need to be in permanent contact with their children in the event of an emergency."
Although no one denies that there is a behavior crisis in schools, the main concern of teachers is not mobile phones, but physical and verbal abuse of students, cuts, endemic lack of funds, lack of support for children with mental disorders, understaffing, inequality and the growing level of poverty.
"What the Government is doing is hiding the substantial issues, which are their responsibility after thirteen consecutive years in power and an unhealthy obsession with austerity, and drawing attention with a populist measure like the total ban on phones mobile phones in schools, which would not solve the underlying problems", says Geoff Barton, of the Association of School Leaders.
This is the third attempt by the conservatives to implement the measure. Already in February, the Government gave up when it was considered that the schools themselves were already doing enough at their own risk to limit the use of mobile phones in the premises, and that, therefore, "a greater intervention was unnecessary" . Now, with the election looming and the need for headlines, he is back at it with a plan that would only be applicable in England, but not in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, where Education is a regional responsibility.
