Cellphone use is totally banned in all basic educational institutions to promote studying and regular reading

Many children are spending a lot of time on their cellphones, often using social media and watching videos on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. This habit is seen not just in leisure time but also during school hours, raising concerns about the impact on their education and reading habits.

To address this, new measures are being discussed to limit cellphone use among students during school hours. The focus is particularly on basic education students, with plans to allow gadget use only after classes. The goal is to reduce distractions and reclaim time that can be better spent on learning and reading.

In addition to these restrictions, initiatives are underway to promote reading more actively among young people. For instance, during the National Reading Month, children might be required to purchase a book and read it, with the broader aim of reigniting their interest in reading. Efforts are also being made to make books more accessible and affordable, with bookstores encouraged to offer discounts.

Support for these measures is strong among some policymakers. Senator Robin Padilla, for example, has expressed support and shared personal challenges in getting his own children to engage with physical books over digital devices. He acknowledges the tough competition books face from gadgets like laptops, tablets, and cellphones, suggesting that sometimes the solution may be to embrace digital forms of reading, such as e-books on tablets, to attract young readers.

Read: DepEd Reinforces Ban on Student Use of Mobile Phones in Schools

These steps represent a concerted effort to steer children away from excessive screen time and towards reading, enhancing their learning experience and fostering a lifelong habit of reading.