Eight out of 10 Filipinos support the proposed cellphone ban in schools, according to a Pulse Asia survey commissioned by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.
The survey, conducted from June 17 to 24, showed that 76 percent of 1,200 adult respondents nationwide agree that cellphones should be banned inside schools.
Thirteen percent disagreed, while 11 percent were undecided.
“Results of the survey show that Filipinos see the benefits of imposing a ban on cellphone use in schools, especially because distraction from mobile phones in schools is linked to poorer learner performance,” said Gatchalian.
He cited an analysis of the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment by the Senate Committee on Basic Education that eight out of 10 Filipino students aged 15 reported being distracted in class by their smartphones, while another eight out of 10 were distracted by other students’ smartphone use.
The senator from Valenzuela filed the Electronic Gadget-Free Schools Act last June, which seeks to prohibit the use of mobile devices and electronic gadgets from Kindergarten to senior high school within school premises during school hours.
“Malinaw na suportado ng ating mga kababayan ang ating panukala na ipagbawal ang paggamit ng mga cellphones sa mga paaralan, lalo’t na’t ang paggamit nito sa oras ng klase ay maaaring makapinsala sa kanilang pag-aaral,” said Gatchalian.IMT
