Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has filed a bill in the Senate proposing a ban on mobile phones and gadgets during class hours for students from kindergarten to senior high school, and teachers as well. This bill, Senate Bill (SB) No. 2706 or the Electronic Gadget-Free Schools Act, aims to minimize distractions and improve learning outcomes in schools.
The proposed ban covers all electronic devices within school premises during class hours. This includes classrooms, laboratories, gyms, cafeterias, and even teachers' lounges. Exceptions are allowed for learning activities, health reasons, and managing emergencies.
The Department of Education (DepEd) will be responsible for creating specific guidelines for the implementation of this ban. Both public and private schools will be required to follow these guidelines. Schools that fail to comply will face sanctions from DepEd. Students who violate the rules will also be subject to disciplinary actions based on school policies set by DepEd.
Gatchalian based this bill on data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022, which showed a significant number of Filipino students are distracted by smartphones in class. The analysis revealed a correlation between phone use and lower academic performance in Math, Science, and Reading. Gatchalian also cited concerns about cyberbullying potentially facilitated by phone access in schools.
The bill finds further support from a 2023 UNESCO report which recommends stricter regulations on phone use in classrooms. With only a small percentage of countries worldwide having such laws, SB 2706 could position the Philippines at the forefront of promoting a focused learning environment for students.