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.
鈥淚f elected, BC United will ban cellphone use in classrooms,鈥� Falcon said in a statement Monday (Jan. 8).
鈥淚t鈥檚 clear to parents how mobile phone usage is negatively impacting our kids鈥� educations. The NDP鈥檚 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.鈥�
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 鈥� the highest provincial result. B.C. students scored 497, behind Alberta with 504.
Asian countries dominate mathematics, led by Singapore (575), Mainland China鈥檚 special administrative zone of Macao (552) and Chinese Taipei, also known as Taiwan (547).
B.C.鈥檚 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.鈥檚 score is 519 and considered on par with Alberta鈥檚.
Digital technology in classrooms
While it is not entirely clear what if, any role cellphone use has played in B.C.鈥檚 declining numbers, PISA鈥檚 report on Canada鈥檚 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. That鈥檚 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.
鈥溾�� students were less likely to report getting distracted using digital devices when the use of cell phones on school premises is banned,鈥� 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.
鈥淭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.鈥�
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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 鈥渆ducational approach,鈥� noting that most school districts in B.C. already follow a policy not unlike Quebec鈥檚.
鈥淒oes the province have a part of play? Sure they can,鈥� he added. 鈥淭he province can shepherd the issue, but I think setting the policy should be left more to the schools and the school districts.鈥�
While Laur acknowledged the inappropriate use of cellphones by some students that can be 鈥渟omewhat distracting to learning,鈥� 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.
鈥淲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.鈥�
Singh鈥檚 ministry also pushed back against the broader claim that B.C.鈥檚 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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