Don't lift ban on cell phone use in SHS -Students implore
Majority of students interviewed in Accra have expressed total support for the ban on the use of cell phones in schools.
Advertisement
The students were reacting to a call by the Director of information, Communication and Technology (ICT) of the Ghana Education Service for a review of the policy that bans the use of mobile phones in schools.
While majority of the students felt that the ban was in the right direction, some of their mates wanted to be allowed to use their phones in school.
Those who supported the ban believed that even though mobile phones helped in communication, its negative impact on students far outweighed the benefits.
They believed that without proper supervision, students would spend all their time playing games on their phones or chatting with their friends, to the neglect of their studies.
Another worrying concern, according to them, was that students would upload videos and nude pictures of females which would distract their attention in school.
In addition, they said the ban had checked competition, envy and jealousy among students in school as to who was using the latest phone, as well as the temptation of stealing among students
“I support the ban to prevent unnecessary competition among students. The unnecessary competition can put pressure on those who do not have phones to use any means possible to acquire them,” Andy Afriyie Antwi of the St John’s Grammar School in Accra observed.
Beatrice Appiah, a student of the Abuakwa State College, Kyebi, was of the view that sending phones to school would lead to low concentration and retard learning in class.
For her part, Deborah Osei of the Okuapeman School at Akropong Akuapem said if students sent phones to school, it would promote immorality, since students would use them to visit indecent sites.
In the same way, Deborah Kadjani of St John’s Grammar School considered the ban the best option, since some students would show off with their phones and bring about envy and jealousy among their friends.
However, those who want the ban lifted argued that the mobile phone was the best medium for communication and research, especially for students in the boarding school.
Michael Sosu Boateng of PRESEC, Legon, for instance, described mobile phones as tools for research because textbooks did not have all the information students needed.
Additionally, mobile phones with Internet accessibility would help students to know what was happening around the world.
Maame Yaa Frimpong of the Methodist Girls’ SHS said even though in some schools phone booths had been provided, students had to queue to make calls and that takes a long time.
“What happens in emergency situations or in the middle of the night?” she queried.
By Wilda Evans/Junior Graphic/Ghana
