The Lithuanian Students' Union (LSU) has approved the proposed guidelines for the use of mobile phones in schools, following a review by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports (MES). According to the organization's vice president, Melita Mikalevičiūtė, leaving each educational institution free to decide on specific rules and procedures will better meet the needs of schools.
"We ourselves were included in the working group that formed these recommendations, and the students' views were taken into account. (…) It was most important for us that the views of students and the community would have an influence on shaping order in schools. We strongly agree with the recommendations," M. Mikalevičiūtė told Elta.
"When the school community is left free to decide, the decisions best meet the expectations and needs of each school. If the school itself has the opportunity to set its own limits, it better responds to the needs of its community and this forms an order that is acceptable to that educational institution," she emphasized.
According to the organization's vice president, during internal discussions, students admit that using mobile phones prevents them from concentrating during lessons.
"LMS supports this restriction because students themselves raise the issue in our internal discussions that mobile devices are distracting and prevent them from concentrating during class," said M. Mikalevičiūtė.
"(Restrictions on the use of mobile phones – ELTA) can have a positive impact on the educational process, but we should not completely ban their use. It can also be a learning tool," she emphasized.
On Friday, a working group formed by the Ministry of Education and Science presented recommendations on the use of mobile phones in schools. However, the ministry is still waiting for public comments on these proposals.
According to the ministry, the recommendations proposed to institutions set out guidelines that each school will use to develop its own procedures regarding the use of mobile phones.
In the school's internal legal acts, a working group convened by the ministry proposes to determine how the use of mobile phones will be restricted - for example, when a student arrives at school, they can be left in specially equipped safe places, switched off or in silent mode can remain in students' backpacks, etc.
School procedures should also include monitoring measures to ensure that smart devices are used in accordance with the school's procedures, and consequences if agreements are not followed.
However, the draft recommendations also establish exceptions for when mobile phones could be available to students. According to the ministry, phones could be used for educational purposes and at the initiative of a teacher or educational support specialist by students in grades 9–10 and XNUMX–XNUMX of gymnasium.
Mobile phones must also be available to students who need them due to their health or other exceptional circumstances.
The recommendations will be approved by a joint order of the Minister of Education, Science and Sports and the Minister of Health, and schools will prepare their own internal procedures regarding the use of mobile phones based on them.
ELTA reminds that currently the Education Law does not prohibit students from using information and communication technologies in schools for non-educational purposes. School administrations are free to decide on the necessity of such restrictions.
Martyna Pikelytė (ELTA)
