The Government of the Canary Islands has decided to limit the use of mobile phones in the stages of Infant, Primary, Secondary and basic FP to their didactic use and as a learning tool, a resolution that will be published in the next few hours and that will affect the entire school day, including breaks and recesses.
"We have decided to limit the use of mobile phones and any device linked to mobile telephony in non-university public educational centers to an exclusively didactic use as a learning tool," the Minister of Education, Vocational Training, Physical Activity and Sports, Poli Suárez, reported at a press conference this Tuesday.
Suárez has specified that, in addition, its use must be agreed and approved by both the faculty and the School Council of each center, "so it is not about applying it in an authoritarian way but in a participatory and consensual way."
The measure defended by the Minister coincides with the recommendation approved last Thursday by the State School Council, whose Standing Committee unanimously approved that in Secondary school mobile phones should be kept turned off from when the student enters until they leave the institute, and that in Infant and Primary school these devices should not be carried, except in exceptional and justified cases, such as health or family matters.
In this sense, the Canary Islands Minister of Education has pointed out that "the use may be authorized for exceptional reasons and needs, taking into account the personal circumstances of a medical nature that are accredited to the management of the center by the legal representatives of the students or by the students of legal age."
The measure, formalized in a document of instructions and worked on by the team of the Ministry "after collecting and listening to the opinions of all the agents involved in education in the islands and the entire educational community through the School Council of the Canary Islands, which brings together teachers, families, students and trade unions, among others," will be applied throughout the school day, including breaks and recesses, as well as complementary and extracurricular activities and services.
The Minister has pointed out that in post-compulsory Secondary Education, non-university higher education and special education, it will be the educational centers that, depending on their pedagogical and organizational autonomy, and taking into account the ages and maturity of the students, may establish limitations on the use of mobile phones in their rules of organization and operation.
"In any case, in the event of non-compliance by students with the rules adopted by the centers themselves, corrective measures may be adopted with a restorative and educational nature, always guaranteeing the rights of students," he added.
"It is, in any case, to protect students and avoid possible interference and distractions that may affect their academic development, while at the same time highlighting the teaching figure and respect for teachers and classmates within the classrooms in the face of the possible inappropriate use of mobile phones," the Minister said.
Suárez pointed out that the way in which the measure is implemented will depend on the centers, some may have lockers where the devices are kept, while others will apply it by asking students to turn off their mobile phones and store them in their backpacks.
This instruction document will become a resolution in the next few hours and, once published on the website of the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training, Physical Activity and Sports, it will be considered in force.
The Canary Islands Ministry will present its proposal this Wednesday, January 31 at a meeting that will take place between the autonomous communities and the Ministry of Education and will take into account the announcement that said ministry will "presumably" make this Wednesday "in case it is necessary to add any consideration that is raised from the central Government" to this resolution.
