URBAN
KIDS AND MOBILE USAGE – SOCIAL ISSUE
News: Social media, OTT, online gaming
usage rises: 60% urban kids spend 3 hours daily | Data
What's
in the news?
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The report, titled “State of Elementary
Education in Rural India” was recently released.
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It highlights the prevailing digital
landscape in rural communities regarding Education.
State
of Elementary Education in India:
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It is a comprehensive survey conducted
across 21 Indian States, encompassing 6,229 parents of rural schoolchildren
aged 6 to 16.
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It is released by the Development
Intelligence Unit (DIU).
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It has uncovered a notable trend -
children in rural areas predominantly employ smartphones for entertainment
purposes rather than for educational pursuits
Key
Highlights:
1.
Smartphone Use and Entertainment:
Findings:
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The survey found that 49.3% of rural
students have access to smartphones, shaping their digital engagement.
Entertainment
Dominance:
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Among parents whose children have access
to gadgets, a significant 76.7% noted that their children primarily use
smartphones for playing video games, underscoring the prevalence of
entertainment-related activities.
Media
Consumption:
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The survey revealed that 56.6% of students
with access to gadgets use smartphones for downloading and watching movies,
while 47.3% engage in downloading and listening to music.
Educational
Utilization:
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In contrast, only 34% of students employ
smartphones for study downloads, and merely 18% access online learning
resources such as tutorials.
2.
Demographics and Education Levels:
Age
and Smartphone Access:
●
The survey delineated that students in
higher grades (Class VIII and above) have greater access to smartphones
(58.32%) compared to their counterparts in lower grades (Classes I-III) with
access at 42.1%.
Aspirations
for Education:
●
An encouraging statistic emerged, with 78%
of parents aspiring to educate their daughters to at least graduation level,
and 82% aiming for the same for their sons
3.
Parental Participation and Insights:
Learning
Conversations:
●
The survey indicated that only 40% of
parents engage in daily conversations with their children about school-related
learning. Another 32% have such discussions a few days a week.
Dropout
Insights:
●
Among a subset of 56 respondents, reasons
for children dropping out of school included daughters needing to contribute to
family income (36.8%), lack of interest in studies (31.6%), and household
responsibilities (21.1%).
●
For boys, the primary reason was
disinterest in studies (71.8%), followed by the need to assist with family
earnings (48.7%).
Parent-Teacher
Meetings:
●
Impressively, 84% of parents reported
regular attendance at parent-teacher meetings. Challenges hindering
participation included short notice and a lack of willingness.
Significance
of Use of Smartphone by School Children:
1.
Post-COVID Digital Age:
●
Post-pandemic there has been increased
usage of smartphones owing to the widespread boom in the edutech industry.
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The government has also highlighted the
use of smartphones in its NEP or New Education Policy.
2.
Implementation of blanket ban:
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Studies have shown that a blanket ban on
phones is difficult for school administration to enforce as children find
discreet ways to bring phones.
3.
Information & digital age:
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Smartphones provide students with instant
access to a vast amount of information and educational resources which can
enhance their learning experience.
●
The use of the latest technology like AI
and speech recognition can widen the scope of education and make it possible to
engage children from various backgrounds.
4.
Interactive:
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Learning may be made more interactive and
engaging by using smartphones in sessions.
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Interactive tests, multimedia presentations,
and educational apps can hold students’ interest and accommodate various
learning styles.
Challenges
of Use of Smartphone by School Children:
1.
Distraction:
●
The fact that smartphones may be quite
distracting is one of the biggest worries.
●
During class, students might use them for
non-educational activities like texting, social media, or gaming, which would
distract them from learning.
2.
Academic Performance:
●
Smartphone distractions might affect
academic achievement as they are engaged in non-academic activities or
frequently check their phones during class, risk missing vital information, and
find it difficult to stay up with their studies.
3.
Social Interaction:
●
Smartphone use in class could make it
harder for students to interact socially in person.
●
There may be less opportunity for peer
collaboration, communication, and social skill development if students are
engrossed in their devices.
4.
Health concerns:
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Excessive smartphone use has been
associated with attention deficit disorders, anxiety, and depression.
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This may affect the mental health of the
student and his academic performance.
WAY
FORWARD:
UNESCO
Suggestions:
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UNESCO recommended that policymakers
should take in mind the concern of students and frame data protection laws
keeping their health & security in mind.
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UNESCO has suggested that mobile phones be
banned during school hours.
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UNESCO has suggested that bringing
smartphones into schools increases the digital divide among students belonging
to various socio-economic backgrounds because students with access to the
latest expensive devices could experience an advantage, while those with
limited resources might feel left out or stigmatized.
Despite limited access,
these findings emphasize the need for balanced digital engagement that promotes
both educational growth and recreational activities. The survey’s insights into
parental aspirations, conversations around learning, and the challenges of
dropout rates provide a comprehensive picture of the rural education landscape
and underscore the importance of holistic educational approaches.