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.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
Company%20profile
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Trolls World Tour
Directed by: Walt Dohrn, David Smith
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake
Rating: 4 stars
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
Three ways to boost your credit score
Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:
1. Make sure you make your payments on time;
2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;
3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.
IF YOU GO
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info
Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
ACC 2019: The winners in full
Best Actress Maha Alemi, Sofia
Best Actor Mohamed Dhrif, Weldi
Best Screenplay Meryem Benm’Barek, Sofia
Best Documentary Of Fathers and Sons by Talal Derki
Best Film Yomeddine by Abu Bakr Shawky
Best Director Nadine Labaki, Capernaum
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
Liverpool's all-time goalscorers
Ian Rush 346
Roger Hunt 285
Mohamed Salah 250
Gordon Hodgson 241
Billy Liddell 228
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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WORLD CUP SEMI-FINALS
England v New Zealand (Saturday, 12pm)
Wales v South Africa (Sunday, 1pm)
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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