A ban on mobile phone use in England's schools made global headlines this week, but many schools in the UAE made the move long ago.
Schools in England can implement the ban in several ways, including issuing an order to leave phones at home, allowing pupils to keep phones in lockers, or letting pupils to have phones on them as long as they are not seen or heard.
Several schools across the Emirates have introduced their own rules, according to a number of education experts speaking to The National.
"We don't have mobile phones in school for pupil use ... they remain in their bags for the duration of the school day, and they can use them on their way to and from school," said Rebecca Coulter, principal at Dubai British School Jumeirah Park.
“We found that the interference from [using] phones stopped pupils from accessing the quality of learning, they were an unwelcome distraction, particularly with the use of social media.
“We made the move a couple of years ago to remove mobile phones from the school and we find this is something that's had a positive effect on behaviour.”
The move in England, announced earlier this week, means that mobile phone use is prohibited in schools there, though it is being left up to staff to decide how that is enforced.
A similar set-up is already in place across a number of schools in the UAE.
“The use of mobile phones now among young children is significant," said Ms Coulter.
“There is a very high percentage of children in possession of mobile phones, which can have a real benefit but also exposes them to social media, and maybe content that is not appropriate for their age."
“A lot of people have grappled with the effect it's had on the mental health of children. There is a detrimental effect from the use of social media, particularly in teenagers and young children."
She said parents supported the move.
Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, pointed out that by the age of 12, 97 per cent of children have their own mobile phone.
Social media use has been linked with a decline in mental health, with the Arab Youth Survey 2023 finding that 60 per cent of young Arabs thought it was having a negative impact on their mental well-being.
Only on request
Rashmi Nandkeolyar, principal at Delhi Private School Dubai, said pupils at the school were not allowed to carry phones to class, unless there had been a special request made by a parent.
Even then, pupils were required to hand over their phones to a supervisor who would return them at the end of lessons.
“It would be very distracting otherwise and definitely add to bullying and other issues,” said Ms Nandkeolyar.
Matthew Burfield, senior vice president of education at Gems Education said all of the seven schools in his cluster had banned phones.
Gems Metropole School in Motor City has had a ban on phones on campus for the past nine years, he added.
"Since its inception, there have been no mobile phones allowed in the school. We don't allow mobile phones for children across any of the age groups. The only mild exception is in one of my schools, which is in Sharjah, for the sixth-form pupils," said Mr Burfield.
"In my schools, they are asked to place them in their lockers when they come in during the morning, and they are allowed to then collect them as they leave."
Avoiding distractions
Punit Vasu, Indian High Group of Schools' chief executive, said mobile phones were not a suitable device for learning.
“The school doesn't promote the usage of phones because it may lead to distractions," said Mr Vasu.
Excessive use of phones has been linked to harming eyesight and, previously ophthalmologists in the UAE encouraged parents to reduce their children’s screen time after seeing more young patients come to them with eye complaints.
Ian Thurston, principal of Dubai International Academy Al Barsha, said phones were not allowed to be used during the day there.
"Students below grade four are not allowed phones at all and while it is accepted that secondary students may have a phone on them during the day, we expect it to be invisible, in that we do not want to see them or hear them," said Mr Thurston.
The only exception is if a teacher gives permission for a phone to be used for educational purposes, such as creating a video.
Mum's the word on phones
Faten El Hajj, a mother of two in Dubai, said there was no point in children having phones in the classroom.
“This is interrupting them. It makes them feel like they are allowed to use social media or communicate with people outside," said Ms El Hajj.
“I feel that there is no benefit at all from the phone being with the kids in the classroom."
She said pupils could always use the school’s phone in case of emergencies.
Souha Itani, from Lebanon, a mother of four in Abu Dhabi, said pupils needed phones while travelling to and from school but not in the classrooms.
She said her children could call a parent during breaks or between periods.
Phones are extremely useful for quickly locating children when picking them up after school, especially during the hot summer months, she added.
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
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The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Quarter-finals
Saturday (all times UAE)
England v Australia, 11.15am
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm
Sunday
Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
if you go
The flights
Fly to Rome with Etihad (www.etihad.ae) or Emirates (www.emirates.com) from Dh2,480 return including taxes. The flight takes six hours. Fly from Rome to Trapani with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Dh420 return including taxes. The flight takes one hour 10 minutes.
The hotels
The author recommends the following hotels for this itinerary. In Trapani, Ai Lumi (www.ailumi.it); in Marsala, Viacolvento (www.viacolventomarsala.it); and in Marsala Del Vallo, the Meliaresort Dimore Storiche (www.meliaresort.it).
The specs: 2017 Maserati Quattroporte
Price, base / as tested Dh389,000 / Dh559,000
Engine 3.0L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 530hp @ 6,800rpm
Torque 650Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Fuel economy, combined 10.7L / 100km
Upcoming games
SUNDAY
Brighton and Hove Albion v Southampton (5.30pm)
Leicester City v Everton (8pm)
MONDAY
Burnley v Newcastle United (midnight)
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
Zayed Sustainability Prize
LOS ANGELES GALAXY 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 5
Galaxy: Dos Santos (79', 88')
United: Rashford (2', 20'), Fellaini (26'), Mkhitaryan (67'), Martial (72')
Wayne Rooney's career
Everton (2002-2004)
- Appearances: 48
- Goals: 17
Manchester United (2004-2017)
- Appearances: 496
- Goals: 253
England (2003-)
- Appearances: 119
- Goals: 53
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
Last-16
France 4
Griezmann (13' pen), Pavard (57'), Mbappe (64', 68')
Argentina 3
Di Maria (41'), Mercado (48'), Aguero (90 3')
RESULT
West Brom 2 Liverpool 2
West Brom: Livermore (79'), Rondón (88' )
Liverpool: Ings (4'), Salah (72')
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Men from Barca's class of 99
Crystal Palace - Frank de Boer
Everton - Ronald Koeman
Manchester City - Pep Guardiola
Manchester United - Jose Mourinho
Southampton - Mauricio Pellegrino
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
South Africa v India schedule
Tests: 1st Test Jan 5-9, Cape Town; 2nd Test Jan 13-17, Centurion; 3rd Test Jan 24-28, Johannesburg
ODIs: 1st ODI Feb 1, Durban; 2nd ODI Feb 4, Centurion; 3rd ODI Feb 7, Cape Town; 4th ODI Feb 10, Johannesburg; 5th ODI Feb 13, Port Elizabeth; 6th ODI Feb 16, Centurion
T20Is: 1st T20I Feb 18, Johannesburg; 2nd T20I Feb 21, Centurion; 3rd T20I Feb 24, Cape Town
Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.
Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.
The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.
Day 1, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Sadeera Samarawickrama set pulses racing with his strokeplay on his introduction to Test cricket. It reached a feverish peak when he stepped down the wicket and launched Yasir Shah, who many regard as the world’s leading spinner, back over his head for six. No matter that he was out soon after: it felt as though the future had arrived.
Stat of the day - 5 The last time Sri Lanka played a Test in Dubai – they won here in 2013 – they had four players in their XI who were known as wicketkeepers. This time they have gone one better. Each of Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva, Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella – the nominated gloveman here – can keep wicket.
The verdict Sri Lanka want to make history by becoming the first team to beat Pakistan in a full Test series in the UAE. They could not have made a better start, first by winning the toss, then by scoring freely on an easy-paced pitch. The fact Yasir Shah found some turn on Day 1, too, will have interested their own spin bowlers.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
