Any student found in possession of a mobile device in any school in Bhutan faces serious consequences: the device will be confiscated for the entire school year, parents will be summoned and reprimanded, and/or a fine will be imposed. The school authorities will treat the student as if he or she had committed a crime, which is usually considered normal and acceptable.
But that is not the case. It is at odds with our grand vision of an ICT-enabled knowledge society. In an age when the world is at our fingertips and infinite knowledge is just a click away, a blanket ban on mobile devices in schools is unfair and unjustifiable.
Imagine this: thousands of boarding students across the country are cut off from the world for 10 months of the year, their youthful curiosity to learn and explore online fading. And when they enter a workforce that is inextricably linked to gadgets, the opportunities we have denied them become harshly and unfairly clear.
Certainly, concerns about misuse, overuse, distraction, and many other issues associated with irresponsible use of mobile gadgets are legitimate. But no matter how low the level of concern from teachers, parents, or governments, it does not justify a complete shutdown of access to unlimited information, knowledge, and exploration. It is time to think beyond fears about misuse that are merely speculation in the absence of data.
The Ministry of Education should relax current regulations so that schools can develop their own policies and set terms of use regarding the use of mobile devices. Improving digital literacy would alleviate many of the concerns about misuse and overuse. Price is another issue entirely.
Allowing access to mobile gadgets opens up a world of learning materials and platforms that are far more exciting, interactive and modern than traditional textbooks. By allowing students to use mobile devices, teachers have access to a host of free interactive learning platforms.
The Ministry of Education has begun reducing the curriculum and moving away from textbooks. These efforts require improved access to mobile devices and the internet. Government policies and efforts are geared towards digitalisation, but some practices remain outdated.
Furthermore, digital literacy is considered important for any field of work. Digital literacy includes the skills to navigate the digital world safely, securely and responsibly. These skills can only be acquired through the use of digital devices, which brings practical opportunities and challenges for learning.
For Bhutanese to take advantage of technological advancements, we need to equip our children with the digital skills to be global citizens. Let’s broaden our children’s learning horizons, or we risk being left behind as a country.
The premise behind banning mobile devices in schools is that they do more harm than good. The reality is that mobile devices do more good than bad.