MANY Filipinos nowadays have smartphones and are constantly online. And the kids are not an exception, with their eyes glued to the screens most of the time.
And now that classes will start on June 16 for a new school year, many wonder if the use of electronic gadgets such as smartphones and tablets will still be prohibited inside classrooms.
Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara clarified that while the “no gadget” policy is a general rule, the use of electronic devices for educational purposes is allowed, highlighting that the agency supports integrated learning.
Meanwhile, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) NCR president Ruby Bernardo recognized that the use of gadgets is no longer a luxury nor optional but is a necessity especially with the shortage of learning materials.
“Sa actual na situation sa classroom, dahil kulang ng learning material… ginagamit ang cellphone, tablet sa ilang references—paggamit ng modules online, PDFs, at iba pa,” Bernardo said in a press conference.
She furthered by citing examples where teachers and students turn to YouTube, DepEd TV, other educational websites, and online modules to aid in learning.
Barnardo emphasized that what schools should be focusing on is not banning the use of gadgets but rather guiding the learners on proper, effective, and responsible use of technology.
