UN urges global ban on classroom smartphones for

A UN report from Unesco recommends a worldwide ban on smartphones in classrooms to enhance learning and protect student well-being, reports The Independent. The report notes a link between excessive phone use and lower academic performance, highlighting detrimental effects on children’s emotional stability.

UNESCO cautions against the overuse of digital tech in education, urging a focus on the “social dimension of education.” DirectorGeneral Audrey Azoulay stressed the need to ensure that human-centred learning is not replaced by digital tools.

UNESCO calls for clear principles to ensure tech benefits students. Around 25% of countries have implemented bans in schools, including France, Finland and Italy. China now limits usage to 30% of teaching time.

The report serves as a reminder that technology should serve education thoughtfully. While digital progress is promising, prioritising meaningful learning experiences is paramount.

As reported by The Guardian, the education secretary has acknowledged the ongoing struggle to improve student attendance rates in England. Department for Education data for the 2022-23 school year confirmed that absenteeism in state schools remained significantly higher than pre-Covid times, encompassing both authorised and unauthorised absences.

Gillian Keegan emphasised, “School attendance is just as important on the last day of term as on the first... There’s still more work to do.” Keegan also highlighted the ongoing efforts to support schools in ensuring consistent attendance.

Inverclyde, a Scottish town known for its unique twin phenomenon, is about to witness an extraordinary event. As reported by Yahoo News, 17 sets of twins are poised to embark on their primary school journey together. The pre-school dress rehearsal at St Patrick’s Primary in Greenock, Inverclyde, saw 15 out of the 17 sets of twins preparing for their first day of school in late August.

St Patrick’s and Ardgowan Primary will host the largest number of twin pairs, each receiving three sets. Astonishingly, this isn’t the first time Inverclyde has experienced such a high influx of twins; in 2015, 19 sets of twins started school together.

Graeme Brooks, depute provost at St Patrick’s Primary, expressed excitement for the new term’s start and described the tradition of welcoming twins to primary school as an annual highlight. He added that the sight of uniformed pupils brings joy and anticipation.

The unique occasion also provides a delightful experience for parents, doubling as a dress rehearsal before the actual start of school. The town’s investment in education, including the recent rebuilding of St Patrick’s, emphasises its commitment to fostering an exceptional learning environment.

National data showed a 60% rise in missed school days, with 7.5% of days absent in the 2022-23 academic year. Primary schools saw rates double to 6%, while secondary schools hit 9.3%, compared to 5.5% prepandemic. Persistent absenteeism, constituting 17% of primary and 28% of mainstream secondary pupils in the past school year, has doubled from 2018-19.