TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Education (DepEd) is considering extending its cellphone restriction to students’ recess and break periods as the agency weighs how to address the harmful effects of social media and online content on children.
Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara disclosed the proposal in response to a question from Caibiran Mayor Rhodessa Revita during the 2nd Quarter Joint Regional Task Force 8–End Local Communist Armed Conflict (JRTF8-ELCAC) meeting held in Naval, Biliran.
“The debate now is whether we should ban cellphone use even during recess or break time. That is something we are currently considering,” Angara said.
Under DepEd Order No. 006, s. 2026, or the Guidelines on Ensuring Safe and Motivating Learning Environment, the use of portable electronic devices by learners and personnel is prohibited during instructional hours.
The policy, however, allows exemptions in meritorious cases, including the use of gadgets for academic purposes such as accessing educational platforms and digital resources and participating in authorized collaborative activities.
Gadgets may also be used during emergencies, including disasters, medical emergencies and other situations involving immediate safety concerns.
Angara acknowledged that completely prohibiting cellphone use during school breaks could create practical difficulties because students sometimes need to contact their parents, particularly to arrange transportation or coordinate who will pick them up.
“Sometimes, students need their cellphones to communicate about when they will be picked up,” he said.
He also expressed concern about requiring students to surrender their phones to teachers or school personnel for safekeeping.
“That would be somewhat impractical for us. Teachers also do not want to be put in charge of the cellphones because if something gets lost, they could be held responsible for paying for it,” Angara said.
The proposed extension of the cellphone restriction comes as Congress considers measures seeking to regulate children’s access to social media and other online platforms, particularly those aged 16 and below.
Angara said the discussions are being undertaken alongside similar initiatives in other countries, including Australia, Great Britain and Denmark.
“We must acknowledge that social media really has harmful effects,” he said, citing the shooting incident in Tacloban City and reports identifying the alleged shooter with the online nihilistic violent group 764.
Angara said addressing the possible harmful effects of social media and online content requires a community-wide effort involving parents, teachers, schools and other stakeholders.
He emphasized the importance of adult guidance for adolescents, particularly those aged 14 to 16, whose brains are still developing in areas associated with emotional processing.
Parents should provide support and guidance at home, while teachers and school guidance counselors should help students deal with emotional and behavioral concerns, he said.
DepEd, however, continues to face a shortage of guidance counselors, partly because of the Philippine Regulation Commission’s requirement that counselors hold a master’s degree.
Angara said the department is willing to provide salaries for guidance counselors but is exploring other ways to strengthen psychosocial and learner-support services in schools.
One option is the establishment of learning formation officers, which could involve one or several teachers being assigned to provide additional support to students.
Angara was in Eastern Visayas for several engagements, including the JRTF8-ELCAC meeting hosted by Biliran province on August 10 and the Samar Day celebration in Catbalogan City on August 11, where he served as guest speaker.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
