South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has outlined his government’s strategy for harnessing the new technology of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and integrating it into the economy of the future. He has assured South Africans that although jobs would be lost to technology with the implementation of the 4IR, more opportunities would be presented. He has appointed a Presidential Commission with the task of identifying relevant policies, strategies, and action plans that will position South Africa as a competitive global player.
Mr. Ramaphosa and other politicians love to espouse the urgent need for South Africa to develop skills, including youth education in technology. So, why then are some schools banning cell phones?
It was an informal but significant topic at a recent conference of heads of independent schools, with several heads wanting to ban phones, often with a zero-tolerance policy. But the question that arises is: why? And why is it being driven by some school heads and not others?
The answer to these questions is not straightforward. Every school seems to have its own policy when it comes to cell phone usage. According to an article from Timeslive on September 16, 2022, “Badly behaved pupils won’t switch off in class, but is banning phones the solution?” there is no body of evidence or educational common policy that supports bans or the #phonesmustfall movement, so what could be the real reasons behind these decisions?
One possible factor could be teacher incompetence. Recent reports have raised concerns about the competency of South African teachers. An article from the Daily Investor on October 17, 2023 referenced a research report by the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust, which states that “simply put, a large percentage of South African teachers lacked the basic knowledge of the subjects they taught.” The report also stated, “We must also understand and further develop the role that technology can play in supporting both foundation phase learners and teachers.”
However, is it teacher incompetence, or is there something more sinister at play? One example from the United States, specifically the Kingsway Regional School District in New Jersey, suggests that cell phones and technology can be used to expose questionable activities by school officials. Email and video evidence obtained by O’Keefe Media Group revealed discussions about concealing students’ preferred names and gender information from parents using the student database. While this example is from the United States, it highlights the potential for misuse of technology by school officials.
The banning of cell phones at St Stithians Girls’ College became a contentious issue after the school capture project of 2020. Concerns were raised in my article titled “St Stithians to St Capture” on November 4, 2022, where I noted that the college was applying new legal disclaimers that absolved them of responsibility for questionable changes to its curricula. Additionally, cell phones were banned entirely for Grade 8 and 9, which raised suspicions of ulterior motives. Some suggested that the decision was driven by fear of negative publicity and a desire to prevent any pictures and videos of school activities from getting out.
Perhaps cell phone bans will be extended now that the story about the Warriner Ponzi scheme (BizNews, 26 October 2023) which allegedly affected over 2,000 families including teachers, and attracted the attention of the FSCA (Moneyweb, 30 October 2023). Perhaps there are connections between the Ponzi scheme and the school capture project that could be exposed through phones, technology, and digital forensic audits?
It’s essential to consider the other side of the argument, where some independent schools see things differently. According to one source, some schools do not attempt to ban cell phones, as students use them responsibly. In these schools, students are encouraged to use cell phones as learning tools, taking pictures of the board and revising the material later. There are also a multitude of learning Apps available for students to download, and some schools use cellphones to enhance learning. This seems to be a sensible approach, as cellphones are an inescapable feature of modern life – it seems wise to integrate them into the classroom and to teach responsible use of cellphones and technology.
In summary, the debate over whether cell phones should be banned in South African schools is multifaceted. If a school chooses to implement a ban, it is essential to scrutinise how, when, where, and why such a decision is made. Are there clear policies and evidence supporting the ban, or are there hidden agendas? Additionally, the competency of teachers and the responsible use of technology should be taken into account.
Ultimately, any decisions about cell phones should prioritise the well-being of students, their education, and their preparedness for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Parents, teachers, and school officials must work together to ensure that any policies related to technology are fair, transparent, and aligned with the best interests of the students.
The views of the writer are not necessarily the views of the Daily Friend or the IRR.
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