The Minister of Education explained today that he had asked the Schools Council for an opinion on the use of cell phones within educational establishments because it was a “complex topic” and so as not to decide “untimely”.
“I think it is a complex topic and because it is complex we need the knowledge of those who know, in particular the teachers and management [of the schools] who are on the ground and that is why I asked the School Council for this opinion so as not to decide on guesswork or in some untimely way”, stated João Costa at the VIII International Meeting on Pedagogical Innovation SUPERTABI 2023, in Maia, district of Porto.
Assuming that he does not have a “defined position” on the subject, the government official stressed, however, that he is not “a fan of prohibition, but more a fan of promoting healthy habits”.
The Almeirim School Groups will ban the use of cell phones in 1st cycle schools in the next academic year, in accordance with a recommendation from the Municipal Education Council whose directors voted in favor.
In 2017, the EB 2/3 António Alves Amorim School, in Santa Maria da Feira, in the Porto district, banned the use of cell phones throughout the premises, allowing students to socialize more with each other and avoid bullying situations. ' on the Internet.
João Costa considered that the cell phone is also a teaching resource, however, he was concerned about the increase in “some security issues and 'cyberbullying'”.
“What worries me, in other words, is when I'm in schools and sometimes I see during breaks that students don't talk to each other, they're all staring at the screen”, he stressed.
And he added: “I am concerned about some security issues and 'cyberbullying' which has increased.”
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