Banning cellphones in schools: 'It is a double-edged sword'

Sara-Jayne Makwala King was in conversation with Matakanye Matakanye, General Secretary at the National Association of School Governing Bodies and Head of Code of Conduct at Milnerton High School, Deon van Zyl.

Listen below.

According to a recent Daily Mail article, St Albans is bidding to become the first city in Britain that is smartphone-free for children under the age of 14.

"It comes amid fears over the impact smartphones have on children's mental health and development, with particular concern over the fact that some children as young as seven now have them."

Teachers are also calling for parents to delay buying a cellphone for children and adolescents.

The article states that recent reports suggest children without a cellphone in class, get higher marks.

In South Africa, the National Association of School Governing Bodies is calling for cellphones to be banned from schools.

The Association believes that these devices serve as a distraction.

"Cellphones, once they are allowed in schools, they are going to destroy order. They are going to destroy discipline."

- Matakanye Matakanye, General Secretary at National Association of School Governing Bodies 

"We don't see what purpose they serve in school." 

- Matakanye Matakanye, General Secretary at National Association of School Governing Bodies 

Van Zyl believes the issue of cellphones in schools is a 'double-edged sword'.

"I agree that it could be a distraction, but let's rather ban cellphones in classes but not entirely out of school. It becomes a policy enforcement issue."

- Deon van Zyl, Head of Code of Conduct at Milnerton High School

"If you ban cellphones, the administration is not going to go away, these kids are actually going to sneak it in and then it becomes a matter of trying to resolve the conflict that it brings about confiscating a phone...To have a policy in place of banning it doesn't take away any administration from the teacher at all."  

- Deon van Zyl, Head of Code of Conduct at Milnerton High School

"The impact of smartphones is quite dramatic - most smartphones have access to a camera, which makes it prone to be used as an instrument for cyberbullying." 

- Deon van Zyl, Head of Code of Conduct at Milnerton High School

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