Q COSTARICA — Starting next school year, students in Costa Rica will not be allowed to use cell phones in the classroom, except for educational purposes previously authorized by teachers.
Leonardo Sánchez, the Minister of Public Education (MEP), confirmed this last Wednesday while outlining the new guidelines that will shape upcoming regulations for evaluating both learning and behavior.
“This is not a whimsical measure; it is an exhaustive review of what more than 30 developed countries are doing. We came to the conclusion that cell phone use is prohibited in the classroom,” Sánchez explained.
The Minister emphasized that, although technology is a useful tool, devices become a source of distraction when there is no teacher guidance. “It affects pedagogical mediation, that is, how the student learns and how the teacher teaches,” he emphasized.
The document that the MEP will present in the coming days to the Higher Education Council also includes changes to the evaluation of behavior, which will once again be a requirement for passing the school year. The discipline grade will be from 0 to 100 and the student must complete it to move up a level.
Bill under discussion
The announcement coincides with the presentation of a bill by independent legislator Cynthia Córdoba, seeking to ban the use of personal cell phones and tablets in all educational centers.
“International experience shows that removing devices improves students’ academic performance and mental health, as they socialize and play again,” the legislator stated.
Córdoba also cited the PISA 2022 report, which revealed that 65% of students admitted to being distracted by digital devices during math classes.
International trend
According to UNESCO, 79 countries maintain restrictions on cell phone use in the classroom. France was a pioneer in implementing this measure in 2018 in primary and secondary schools, and more recently, Brazil adopted a law banning devices for students ages 4 to 17. China, Finland, New Zealand, Canada, and the Netherlands also apply similar restrictions.
The MEP stated that the measure in Costa Rica seeks to improve concentration and achievement in the classroom, as well as promote responsible use of technology outside of schools, with the support of parents and guardians.
Exceptions and Permitted Use During Recesses
Although the measure will be strict in the classroom, cell phone use will be permitted during recess. In addition, there will be specific exceptions for when teachers or schools require them as a support tool in learning methodologies that involve the use of technology.
Some schools have already put the rule into practice and are seeing positive changes. Take the Juan Rafael Mora School in San José, for example. They banned cell phones in class ahead of schedule, and teachers there say students are now more focused and performing better as a result.
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