France, Finland and China have already banned the use of mobile phones in schools.
SINGAPORE - At the beginning of each school day, students at Queensway Secondary School have to keep their mobile phones in a “locker”. On most days, they do not have access to their phones until at least six hours later, when their last lesson ends.
Amid mounting research showing the relationship between screen time on smartphones and mental health issues in youth, schools in Singapore have in recent years stepped up measures to curb the usage of smartphones. He added that schools may restrict the use of mobile devices to designated areas or times, like during recess, after school or at the foyer.
Before, students would talk more to one another and there was a lot more play and in-person interaction, she said. Now, it is more common for them to play video and online games, and have conversations about these games with friends regularly. ACS Secondary 2 student, Ng Jun Yi, 14, said locking up their phones helps him and his peers stay focused during lessons by minimising distractions, but he feels the rule should be relaxed during recess.
Mr Christopher Lim, 34, the school’s subject head of student well-being, said this sparked a trend in the school and more students have started stacking their mobile phones during recess time. Previously, when students could have their phones switched on, Secondary 4 student Anand Nethra, 16, would reach for her phone often to check notifications or reply messages.
The school also revamped its spaces to encourage more social interaction among students, in lieu of using their phones. “If children and adolescents are allowed to use smartphones and other devices in school, they will gravitate and overuse . That may leave no time for anything else, especially physical activity and all forms of social activity and interaction that are of a different tempo than that of screens.”
A secondary school teacher, who declined to be named, said students in his school are required to place their mobile devices in individual mobile phone pouches at the back of the classroom before lessons start. Its policy states that devices such as mobile phones and smartwatches are to be switched off and kept out of sight during all school activities. Pupils may use them only before or after school hours.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Singapore investigates basketball coach for allegedly taking bribes to put children in top schoolsSINGAPORE — A basketball coach is being investigated by Singapore authorities for allegedly accepting improper payments to get students into secondary schools under the Direct School Admission (DSA) scheme.
Read more »
Singapore investigates basketball coach for allegedly taking bribes to put children in top schoolsHe is no longer working in any MOE school, and his coaching membership has been suspended by SportSG.
Read more »
Singapore investigates basketball coach for allegedly taking bribes to put children in top schoolsHe is no longer working in any MOE school, and his coaching membership has been suspended by SportSG.
Read more »
Singapore investigates basketball coach for allegedly taking bribes to put children in top schoolsHe is no longer working in any MOE school, and his coaching membership has been suspended by SportSG.
Read more »
Singapore Vandas set to bloom, Netball Singapore unveils First Lady as new patronA new chapter unfolds for Netball Singapore as they rebrand the team and name Ms Jane Ittogi as their patron.
Read more »
Singapore Theatre Company returns to Singapore Repertory Theatre name after contentious rebrandTheatremakers who objected to the name change in February welcome SRT's latest announcement.
Read more »