‘No mobile phone in class, social media at home’: Gujarat govt’s plan to reduce smartphone usage by children
The state government claimed that Gujarat is the first state to issue guidelines for teachers, parents and children in this regard.
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State Education Minister Praful Pansheriya held a meeting in this regard with officials on Thursday. Express photoBanning use of mobile phones by teachers in classrooms, ensuring primary school students do not come to school with the device, and appealing to the parents against using social media in front of their wards: These are some of the guidelines the Gujarat government is planning to issue to reduce the usage of smart phones by children for the sake of their “physical and mental health.”
A meeting in this regard was chaired by state Education Minister Praful Pansheriya on Thursday with senior officials during which ways to prevent “children from negative effects of social media through smart phones” were discussed.
The state government claimed that Gujarat is the first state to issue guidelines for teachers, parents and children in this regard.
Stating that there has been an increase in suicides among children, Pansheriya told The Indian Express, “Disturbed over the excessive use of social media and smart phones by students that is affecting their physical and mental health, I convened a meeting of senior education officials and formed a committee. It has been tasked with framing rules for students, parents and teachers to reduce the use of mobile phones and pay more attention to sports and physical activities.”
He further said, “Teachers will be banned from using mobile phones in the classroom and strict measures will be taken to ensure that primary school children do not come to school with mobile phones.”
A circular will be issued in this regard in consultation with Children’s University and Indian Institute of Teachers Education (both based in Gandhinagar) as well as psychiatrists at civil hospitals. Besides, a campaign will be launched in this regard, the minister added.
Pansheriya said the teachers will be asked to engage the children in activities like reading and sports instead of being on social media while using smartphones. At the same time, parents will be requested not to use social media in front of their children and ensure the latter are not using smartphones, he added.
Pansheriya expressed hope that other states will take inspiration from Gujarat and implement the measures.
Further, the minister requested NGOs, religious organisations and social activists to join the campaign to keep children away from social media and smartphones. Besides, parents will be informed about the harms of social media by playing a short film in every school.
The meeting held on Thursday was attended by Additional Chief Secretary of Higher and Technical Department Sunaina Tomar, Technical Commissioner Banchha Nidhi Pani, Director of Higher Education Dinesh Guru, State Project Director Samara Shiksha Lalit Narayan Sandu, Director of Schools Prajesh Rana, Director Primary Education MI Joshi, and Vice Chancellor of Children’s University Sanjaykumar Gupta along with psychiatrists from Civil Hospital Gandhinagar.
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