The National Party in New Zealand has proposed a nationwide ban on cellphones in schools to improve learning outcomes. However, parents and advocates
The National Party in New Zealand has proposed a nationwide ban on cellphones in schools to improve learning outcomes. However, parents and advocates have expressed concerns about the practicality of such a ban due to students’ resourcefulness in circumventing existing device controls. Parents mention that some students are already using virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass restricted internet access. Additionally, some schools have introduced measures to limit Wi-Fi access during school hours to curb non-learning related phone usage. Critics of the ban argue that smartphones can also serve as valuable learning tools for tasks like taking photos, recording audio, and accessing school materials. The debate continues, with opinions divided on whether decisions about phone usage in schools should be mandated by the government or left to the discretion of individual schools and parents.
