The use of smartphones and tablets is
to be banned in Italian classrooms even for teaching purposes
under new guidelines to be issued shortly, Education Minister
Giuseppe Valditara said in an interview to daily newspaper Il
Foglio published Thursday.
The crackdown, which concerns kindergarten, primary and lower
secondary schools, extends an existing ban on the non-academic
use of smart devices introduced in Italy in 2007, but not always
enforced.
Valditara told Il Foglio the decision has been taken both for
educational reasons and because the use of smartphones and
tablets can often create tension between students and teachers,
sometimes also leading to acts of aggression against school
staff.
"Defending the teaching staff means defending the principle of
delegation and authority that is the lintel not only of the
school system but also of the democratic system," said the
minister, who after taking office in 2022 issued a circular
reiterating the ban on the non-academic use of smartphones in
kindergarten and primary schools.
Last year the UN's educational, cultural and scientific agency
UNESCO recommended that smartphones be banned from schools
around the world on grounds they distract students and have a
negative impact on learning outcomes.
Photo: Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara
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