The Greens of Slovenia raise awareness about the legal restriction on the use of mobile phones in schools

A review of research reveals that although many studies highlight the negative impact of excessive smartphone use on children and adolescents, the effect of banning smartphones in schools remains unclear, and regulations in schools vary from country to country.
VESNA – Zelena Stranka, Green Party of Slovenia, believes that restricting the use of private mobile phones in schools would be very beneficial for students.

At the event “Less Screens, More Knowledge: Reflecting on the Use of Mobile Phones in Schools and in Society at Large,” organized by Vesna, the Green Party, last week, participants agreed that Odklopi.net’s call for a legal restriction on the use of mobile phones and other private digital devices in schools should not be interpreted unilaterally as a ban. It represents an important starting point for a broader reflection on how we, as a society, can address the challenges and opportunities of the modern information society, both within and beyond the system. The first panel featured Dr. Dan Podjed, anthropologist, researcher at ZRC SAZU and associate professor at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Ljubljana; Lara Romih, president of the Association of Parents’ Councils of Slovenia; Urša Zgojznik, co-president of Vesna (Green Party); and Robert Gajšek, former principal of the Hruševec Šentjur Elementary School.

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They emphasized that the petition is a good initiative to begin solving the problem together and that it is a national issue. Slovenia is no different from other countries where bans and restrictions on the use of mobile phones in schools have already been implemented. Therefore, there is no need for extensive research or to seek reasons why these restrictions should not be implemented before the start of the school year. The topic goes beyond the Ministry of Education, but it is important to systematically raise awareness about information literacy among all stakeholders, from parents to teachers and school principals. The discussion with the participants confirmed the consensus that mobile phones bridge the gap between us and that we need to pay more attention to the relationships that characterize every society and are sometimes tiring. Parents and the family environment play a particularly important role in this regard.

The second panel featured Vlasta Juršak, Project Manager at the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development in Kranj and initiator of the Odklopi.net petition; Aleš Pevc, Head of the Technology and Development Projects Office at the Ljubljana Technology Park; Sara Geiger Smole, Professional Associate at the Association of Friends of Youth of Slovenia; and Tatjana Novak, Director of the Infohub Institute.

VESNA – green party

The discussion highlighted the problems associated with the excessive and abusive use of mobile phones and other similar devices, including the rise in addictions among children and adults, learning and concentration difficulties, and an increase in violence.

Furthermore, some solutions and opportunities offered by responsible and targeted use of technology were also presented. It was repeatedly emphasized that children lack contact with their parents and teachers, and that the school system, with its traditional methods of imparting knowledge, is not the best way to motivate them to learn and discover new skills and professions. It is therefore necessary to address the causes of the excessive use of technology, mobile phones, screens, social media, etc., but it is also essential not to approach this issue without children when seeking solutions for them.

The debate also addressed potential future challenges posed by the digital society, such as how to improve media literacy, where to find concrete information, and also what the school of tomorrow will look like and whether we will still need teachers given the need and relevance of increasingly personalized teaching.