The movement calls for a ban on mobile phones in schools and an end to the use of digital textbooks

The Less Screens, More Life movement on Monday advocated for a ban on mobile phones in schools and an immediate end to the use of digital textbooks at a meeting of the Ministry of Education, the decision of which will remain in the hands of schools.

“We have a clear understanding that the ministry will not follow this line, and that is a shame,” lamented Mónica Pereira, speaking to Lusa after a meeting at the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (MECI).

At a meeting attended by the Deputy Secretary of State for Education, Alexandre Homem Cristo, the Menos Ecrãs, Mais Vida movement advocated the banning of “smartphones” in all schools, a decision that is currently in the hands of principals.

“The student charter states that it is forbidden to take and distribute images, but this issue is not practiced,” said Monica Pereira, who understands that instead of changing each school’s rules restricting the use of mobile phones, the student’s status in this regard will need to be reviewed.

Last year, the previous education minister, João Costa, asked the school board for its opinion on the issue, and the directors realized that the solution to the problem of responding to the negative effects of mobile phone use in schools was not working. They did not suggest banning its use, arguing that the decision should be made by the groups themselves.

MECI will now produce information guides for schools, but while it acknowledges the importance of information and awareness campaigns, it believes this is not enough, a spokesperson for the movement said.

The guardianship authorities’ position on electronic school materials is also insufficient, adds Monica Pereira.

In August, MECI announced that it would continue the pilot project in the next academic year, but after assessing the impact of the measure, it will decide whether to continue it from 2025/2026.

At the moment, in the fifth stage of the project, the same templates for students of the 2nd and 3rd cycles are maintained with the possibility of creating new classes that adhere to digital materials, but the new classes of the 1st cycle will not be integrated into secondary education.

“This is far from what we are asking for and what is being practiced in other countries,” said the spokesman, who expects the impact assessment results to reflect positions shared by many parents and teachers.

In May, a survey conducted by the movement found that more than four in five guardians were unhappy and wanted to end the initiative.

Among 462 responses, 90% of education officials said they preferred paper books because they allowed students to concentrate better, while only 8% preferred digital textbooks. Almost a third continued to buy paper textbooks despite the switch.

According to the Main Directorate of Education.

This was the year with the largest number of participants in the pilot project, which began in 2020/21, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, and involved around 1,000 students in nine schools.