BC United is doubling down on its calls to ban cellphones in provincial classrooms, claiming the issue is part of the cause for declining educational scores released last month.

B次元官网网址淚f elected, BC United will ban cellphone use in classrooms,B次元官网网址� Falcon said in a statement Monday (Jan. 8).

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 clear to parents how mobile phone usage is negatively impacting our kidsB次元官网网址� educations. The NDPB次元官网网址檚 reluctance to act is coming at a time when B.C. is seeing a decrease in literacy rates and education outcomes in math and English.B次元官网网址�

The Program for International Student Assessment has been measuring the abilities of 15-year-olds to use their reading, mathematics and science knowledge and skills to meet real-life challenges since 2000.

PISA results for 2022, which were released last month, found B.C. and three other provinces including B.C. above the international average score of 472 in mathematics. Canada as a whole scored 496, while Quebec scored 514 B次元官网网址� the highest provincial result. B.C. students scored 497, behind Alberta with 504.

Asian countries dominate mathematics, led by Singapore (575), Mainland ChinaB次元官网网址檚 special administrative zone of Macao (552) and Chinese Taipei, also known as Taiwan (547).

B.C.B次元官网网址檚 scores used to be higher and have been lowering in recent years, reaching 522 in 2012, 518 in 2015 and 512 in 2018.

When it comes to reading, Alberta tops all provinces with a score of 525. B.C. is not far behind with a score of 511 and considered on par with Alberta by the Council of Ministers of Education.

When it comes to science, Alberta tops all provinces with 534. B.C.B次元官网网址檚 score is 519 and considered on par with AlbertaB次元官网网址檚.

Digital technology in classrooms

While it is not entirely clear what if, any role cellphone use has played in B.C.B次元官网网址檚 declining numbers, PISAB次元官网网址檚 report on CanadaB次元官网网址檚 2022 test scores highlights the impacts of digital technology in the classroom.

More than four-in-10 Canadian students (43 per cent) told PISA that they get distracted using digital devices when studying mathematics. ThatB次元官网网址檚 compared to the international average of 30 per cent. One-in-three students (33 per cent) also told PISA that they get distracted by other students who are using digital devices.

B次元官网网址淏次元官网网址� students were less likely to report getting distracted using digital devices when the use of cell phones on school premises is banned,B次元官网网址� the report reads.

School districts currently manage cellphone policies in B.C. classrooms.

Quebec gave school districts in that province until Dec. 31 to implement a new directive banning use of cellphones at public elementary and secondary schools except for specific educational purposes. Quebec becomes the second province after Ontario to issue a province-wide mandate.

Falcon said it is time for B.C. to follow those provinces.

B次元官网网址淭eachers already have enough on their plates without having to monitor cellphone usage in classrooms, which is why BC United will implement a province-wide (ministry of education) mandate to ensure this ban is implemented consistently in schools throughout British Columbia.B次元官网网址�

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Not everyone favours such a ban.

Darren Laur, co-founder and instructor at The White Hatter, recently argued for what he calls an B次元官网网址渆ducational approach,B次元官网网址� noting that most school districts in B.C. already follow a policy not unlike QuebecB次元官网网址檚.

B次元官网网址淒oes the province have a part of play? Sure they can,B次元官网网址� he added. B次元官网网址淭he province can shepherd the issue, but I think setting the policy should be left more to the schools and the school districts.B次元官网网址�

While Laur acknowledged the inappropriate use of cellphones by some students that can be B次元官网网址渟omewhat distracting to learning,B次元官网网址� a complete ban would be counter-productive, given the all-present nature of technology and need to navigate it, especially in the professional world.

B,C, Education Minister Rachna Singh said in a statement Monday that technology can be a distraction, but also a helpful learning tool, including for those who rely on devices for accessibility.

B次元官网网址淲e are evaluating this issue and we will continue to work with our education partners to ensure that students are succeeding in B.C. schools.B次元官网网址�

SinghB次元官网网址檚 ministry also pushed back against the broader claim that B.C.B次元官网网址檚 educational system is declining.

If B.C. were its own country in the international testing system, it would be 12th in terms of mathematics (tied with Canada), 9th in terms of reading and 9th in terms of science.

The ministry also added that jurisdictions around the world saw some declines in PISA scores between 2018 and 2022, likely the outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated challenges, which the province continues to monitor while working to bolster staffing levels in classrooms.

wolfgang.depner@blackpress.ca
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