PRIOR to the opening of classes, the Department of Education (DepEd) has reminded parents and teachers on the responsible use of phone.
DepEd Order 83 series of 2003 prohibits students in both elementary and secondary schools from using cellphones during classes.
The order also urges teachers and parents to “devise ways to educate students on the responsible use of cellphones to prevent them from engaging in misguided and immoral activities.”
While the intentions of the department are good, it is simply outdated. The year it was released and even its title -- “Prohibiting Students of Elementary and Secondary Schools from Using Cellular Phones and Pagers During Class Hours” -- call for the immediate updating of the rule.
With the fast changing technology, schools are coming up with their own respective rules on mobile devices limiting students from using it during class hours.
There is a possibility that when you visit some schools, their policies on mobile devices may vary depending on how they perceive things.
DepEd, being the agency mandated to formulate, implement, and coordinate policies, plans, programs, and projects in the areas of formal and non-formal basic education, must come up with an updated policy on the use of mobile devices like cellphones, smartphones, and digital tablets.
While we acknowledge DepEd’s embrace to utilizing technology as a means to deliver lessons and knowledge to children, technology, when left unchecked, may harm the students rather than allow them to learn.
With mobile data and wireless internet, students have access to storage full of information that is both safe and unsafe to students. The school may create guardrails for students using the school internet but when they use their mobile data, they have the access to things that you would not even want to hear about.
As much as DepEd is updating the education system of the country, it might also want to consider updating some outdated policies like the one on mobile devices.
With the internet and the learning landscape becoming more digital, the department order is already outdated. The updated rule on mobile devices must be one that protects the student at the same time enhance their learning.