79 countries have banned smartphone use in schools by the end of 2024: UNESCO (Photo: Shutterstock)
In the summer of 2020, Niharika and her batchmates prepared to say goodbye to their school life, a time often considered the most carefree period of life. However, just as this chapter was drawing to a close, a controversy erupted.
Just as her prefect tenure was coming to an end, Niharika was caught using a phone during the practice examination period. Things took a turn for the worse when a group chat was found on her phone, where students were making fun of teachers. Upset by this, the school decided to cut her prefect term short, just because of the phone.
After five years, Delhi High Court on February 28 while hearing the petition of a minor, who was caught misusing a smartphone in school and faced disciplinary action in Kendriya Vidyalaya.
The court ruled against a complete ban on the allowance of smartphones in schools, emphasising that it was neither practical nor desirable.
Instead, the court issued nine guiding principles to regulate the use of smartphones in schools, ranging from encouraging educational institutes to have students deposit their phones for safekeeping to advising schools to implement unique policies tailored to specific circumstances.
However, this decision has sparked various reactions across different sections of society, with some believing that children, especially at this age, should be held accountable or that relaxing the complete ban on smartphones could lead to greater misuse of technology.
What Teachers Think?
The judgment has found support and criticism amongst both teachers and parents. Madhulika Sen, a senior educational advisor at Vasant Vihar’s Tagore International School in New Delhi, has expressed support for the judgement, emphasising that by letting children carry smartphones in schools, we are teaching children a sense of responsibility and accountability.
“In today’s social scenario, with most parents having only one or two children, and students travelling on their own to school or tuitions, cell phones have become a necessity for staying connected. Some schools allow phones but require them to be deposited with the class teacher to prevent misuse. However, my perspective is different. How are we teaching children responsibility, accountability and ownership if we do not let them have that privilege? As per the gudielines of the Central Board of Secondary Education, the governing body of KV schools, children should be taught responsibility and ownership. Parents often say no or ‘you are not old enough’, but until we give students responsibility and guide them on what is acceptable or not, we are not teaching them an essential life skill beyond academics,” Sen tells Media India group.
However, Sheetal Sakpal, the principal of Pune’s Spring Dale School, has strongly criticised the judgment, emphasising that it could lead to increased distractions, excessive screen time, and students exploiting loopholes in the current rules.
“The biggest risk of allowing smartphone use is that it could lead to more distractions, less engagement in class and increased exposure to social media’s negative effects like anxiety and peer pressure. Schools may also struggle to enforce guidelines consistently, and students could find ways to exploit loopholes, leading to too much screen time and less focus on academics,” Sakpal tells Media India group.
Meanwhile, in 2023, the international agency United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) released the 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report. Based on its study detailing the relationship between educational outcomes and student mobile phone use in 14 countries, the report found that smartphone use has a negative effect, which is primarily linked to increased distractions and time spent on non-academic activities during learning hours, to the point where an incoming notification or the mere proximity of a mobile device can be a distraction.
Additionally, the report also states that smartphone use in classrooms leads students to engage in non-school-related activities, which affects recall and comprehension.
In an effort to reduce the negative effects of smartphone use, 79 countries as per the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Global Education Monitoring Report, have implemented bans on smartphone usage in schools by the end of 2024.
This marks an increase from 60 countries in 2023. For example, Zhengzhou in China has further restricted phone use in primary and secondary schools, now requiring parental consent for phones to be used for educational purposes.
Similarly, France has introduced a ‘digital pause’ programme in lower secondary schools, with the potential for a nationwide phone ban at other educational levels. These measures reflect growing concerns among countries about the impact of smartphones in schools.
Indian position uncertain
But despite these precedents above, India reportedly does not have a nationwide law regarding the use of smartphones in schools, except the precedent in August 2023, the Directorate of Education (DoE), Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, which strongly opposed the use of smartphones in schools, which asks teachers to not utilise smartphones during ‘learning activities’.
However, the Delhi High Court, while addressing the circular, stated that it only provides broad instructions and noted that the ban is an undesirable and unworkable approach.
The court also highlighted the benefits of smartphones, including their role in facilitating coordination between parents and children, which contributes to the safety and security of students attending school.
Reacting to these remarks, Charu Mongyal, who has been a French teacher for 11 years at a Delhi-based school, commented on the court’s remarks, emphasising that the court’s decision and opinion, considering the present times are pragmatic.
“A blanket ban on smartphone usage in schools seems impractical, especially given how ubiquitous they have become. Total bans are often hard to enforce and do not really teach kids moderation. Plus, many parents want their children to have phones for safety reasons and to coordinate pickups after school. So, this judgment seems quite pragmatic,” Mongyal tells Media India Group.
Meanwhile, just like teachers, parents too have expressed varied reactions to the Delhi High Court’s opinion on the use of smartphones in schools, emphasising the importance of issuing guidelines rather than enforcing a complete ban.
For instance, Rahul Mehrotra, an employee at a private firm in Delhi and the father of a 15-year-old girl, admits that smartphones are here to stay, as their use has become universal over the years.
“We have to accept that smartphones are universally used now. They are here to stay and will only get smarter each year. The court is absolutely right in observing that their use can only be regulated, not completely banned,” Mehrotra tells Media India Group.
However, Anil Rawat, a private firm employee in Delhi’s Sagarpur, opposes smartphones in schools, arguing they distract children with social media and expose them to harmful content. He also believes they have become status symbols among students.
“Smartphones in schools are a total distraction and should be banned until Class 10. Kids get hooked on social media like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat, which often have unregulated adult content harmful to young minds. Plus, these phones have become status symbols, pressuring children to flaunt expensive gadgets and making those who can’t afford them demand more from their parents,” Rawat tells Media India Group.
According to parents, the best approach is to integrate controlled digital tools provided by the school rather than allowing personal smartphones. Schools could implement monitored tablets or computers for specific learning activities while restricting access to social media and other non-educational content. Additionally, digital literacy programmes should educate students on responsible technology use while reinforcing the importance of offline interactions and traditional learning methods. Maintaining a phone-free environment during school hours remains the most effective way to keep students engaged and protected from digital distractions.
To ensure responsible use, students should deposit their smartphones during school hours. Additionally, smartphone use should be strictly prohibited in classrooms, school vehicles, and shared spaces.
However, according to Sen, students should be treated as young adults rather than toddlers, with clear consequences and privileges appropriately outlined.
“Schools should educate children about the disadvantages of smartphones, not just overload them with knowledge. Take them into confidence, explain privileges, expectations and consequences. If they misuse the privilege, they must face the repercussions. For instance, if a phone is confiscated, they won’t get it back for the entire year. The onus is on them to act responsibly, and the consequences should be strong enough to make them think twice,” adds Sen.
This perspective highlights the need for a balanced approach, one that instills responsibility while maintaining necessary restrictions. As smartphone use continues to grow, schools must find ways to integrate technology meaningfully without compromising discipline and focus. Clear policies, digital literacy education and structured guidelines can help students navigate the digital world responsibly.