Concerns are widespread, but restrictions on cell phone use in schools divide both sides.

The impact of excessive use of new technologies on the development of children and young people is a concern shared by different parties, but the introduction of restrictions on the use of mobile phones in schools has divided Parliament this Wednesday.

The proposal comes from the Bloco de Esquerda (BE), which, in a bill discussed and voted on this Wednesday, proposes to extend to non-academic moments, in the 1st and 2nd cycles, the restrictions provided for in the Law on Students and Ethics, the use School technological equipment in classrooms.

“There are schools that have already restricted the use of mobile phones during breaks, and where negative consequences such as cyberbullying and isolation have given way to positive consequences,” stressed MP Joana Mortagua.

While denying that the proposal is prohibitive, Joana Mortagua also advocates the need to develop guidelines for the healthy use of technology in schools, differentiated by age group.

This topic has been widely discussed after some schools decided to ban the use of mobile phones during breaks, and the Ministry of Education itself sought the opinion of the School Council to support future decisions on this issue.

Despite concerns shared by various parties, the solution proposed by BE did not generate consensus and ultimately failed due to votes against the PS and PSD, similar to the PAN bill, which the Liberal Initiative also voted against.

On the other hand, the draft resolution of the PS was approved with the abstention of Chegi and the PKP with the support of the other parties. In their initiative, the socialists recommend that the government take urgent and mobilizing action for the educational community regarding the use of technological devices in the school context.

“Schools are not and cannot be excluded from this equation. Technological development is nothing new and neither is its impact, but the speed at which it is happening makes us think about how we can look at technology and digitalization. processes,” emphasized MP Katarina Lobo from the PS.

While not ruling out the “possibility of changing legal instruments” in the future as a way of responding to current challenges, as Blok suggests, Katarina Lobo emphasizes that this should not be the starting point and argues that schools will be able to provide adequate responses to their needs.

It was with the same arguments that other parties criticized the BE bill. Sonia Ramos of the PSD acknowledged the importance of the debate, but stressed that “the way is not to ban, but to (…) trust that schools and teachers will make their way.”

“Technology is neither the solution to all problems nor the source of all evil,” Liberal MP Carla Castro began with a statement, believing that the educational community should be involved in assessing the limits of technology use.

Chega accused BE of proposing “a solution that is neither innovative nor surprising: a ban.” “We have to find solutions to the serious problem of addiction, change and affectation, but we do not want to move to models of prohibition that will lead to other models of censorship,” said Andre Ventura.

On the left, Alfredo Maia of PCP defended, among a wide range of measures, the assessment of digital-free playgrounds and their generalization, while Ines Souza Real of PAN rejected Prohibition, proposing the creation of technology-free zones as an alternative .

While agreeing with the precautionary principle emphasized by Joana Mortagua, Livre’s sole deputy Rui Tavares, on the other hand, questioned why the Bloc’s proposal was not limited to the first cycle.

The PAN bill and the PCP resolution were also voted on on this topic, both of which failed with PS, PSD and the Liberal Initiative voting against.