New rules prohibiting the use of cell phones inside and outside the classroom in municipal schools in Rio de Janeiro must be established by the institutions by March this year.
Renan Ferreirinha, municipal secretary of education in Rio de Janeiro, says in an interview with CNN , that the measure involves “making schools more attractive”. “This is the great challenge of Brazilian education.”
The secretary explains that the measure aims to keep the student concentrated and focused on learning, which is essential in the classroom, preventing school dropout. For him, technology can be “pedagogical, a partner in education”, being used in a conscious and responsible way.
Ferreirinha says that “our objective with this is to ensure that school can actually be about learning and social coexistence”, pointing out that children were isolating themselves on their technological devices during recess, without playing or interacting.
The new rules are an expansion of a previous prohibition decreed by the city council that only applied to the classroom, and now extends to other times throughout the school day at educational institutions.
According to the secretary, at the beginning of 2024, a public consultation was opened and “83% of people expressed an opinion in favor of the ban, including during recess and breaks”.
This action, which may be considered by many as very punitive, but has as its backdrop constant distraction and an increase in anxiety and depression among children due to excessive use of screens.
He states that “the student's connection has to be with friends, with teachers, not with their cell phone”.
The consequences for not complying with the ban are like any other behavioral situation at school, where the teacher and director are authorities, and can even call those responsible if it is a recurring behavior, explains Ferreirinha.
Meanwhile, it is expected that other activities such as intense studies and sports will be offered to students, so as not to use the cell phone as a crutch.
The secretary comments that the measure has been implemented gradually with many awareness workshops and exchanges with the whole of society, including parents.
*Under the supervision of Ligia Tuon
Source: CNN Brasil
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