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| Both government and private schools are enforcing stricter rules against the use of mobile phones within the school setting. Picture credit: AI generated expressive image |
Dubai: Government and private schools have introduced a set of
procedures and operational plans to promote student discipline and regularity. These
measures are based on tightening the ban on phone usage inside schools,
monitoring class attendance and absence, and providing early alerts to parents.
Schools also follow up on cases of absence and repeated violations through
administrative teams, student affairs and relevant professionals.
Since the start of the new academic year, schools have shared rules
regarding attendance and absence with students and parents. These rules
emphasize that regular attendance is crucial for maintaining continuous
learning, improving academic performance, and fostering responsibility and
discipline.
These guidelines highlight the importance of avoiding absences on
specific days, such as Fridays, the days before and after official holidays,
the period before final exams, and the last two weeks of the second semester. Schools
have also set a limit of five unjustified absences per semester and a maximum
of 15 days of absence during the academic year.
School principals have outlined six measures to enhance discipline and
protect learning time, with the most important being the restriction of mobile
phones, which are considered major distractions in classrooms.
Phones banned in schools
Dr. Michael Bartlett, Director General of Dubai Modern Education School,
stated that the effectiveness of the phone ban goes beyond just announcing that
“phones are not allowed.” It depends on having clear and consistent rules that
are understood by students, parents, and teachers.
He explained that the process of confiscating a phone is systematic,
beginning with documenting the violation, securely storing the device,
informing the student and guardian, and returning the phone according to
established regulations. Repeated violations are handled through a broader
administrative review by the school and student affairs department. Ghadeer Abu
Shamat, principal of GEMS Gulf International School, mentioned that tightening
phone restrictions does not mean excluding technology from classrooms. Instead,
it aims to separate personal use of phones from the organized use of digital
tools in education. Computers, tablets and educational platforms are still used
as learning tools when supervised by teachers for specific academic purposes.
Dr. Michael Bartlett, Director General of Dubai Modern Education School. Picture credit: Supplied
She explained that the main factor in using devices in the classroom is
the "purpose." For instance, accessing an e-book or educational
platform for a classroom activity is quite different from using the phone for
messages, taking photos or browsing during class. She added that teachers
control when, for how long, and for what purpose technology is used, ensuring
that the device supports learning rather than acting as a distraction. She
highlighted that uniform rules help resolve misunderstandings within classrooms
and ensure that class time is used effectively for teaching and learning.
Samer Sarhan, director of Al Maarefa School, emphasized that tightening
controls on bringing mobile phones to school or misusing communication tools
aims to protect students, encourage discipline and positive behavior, and
provide a safe educational environment free from disruptive practices or
offensive behavior. He added that using a phone for non-educational purposes
leads to penalties as per the regulations, along with involving parents,
informing them about the violation, and requiring their signatures on official
forms. He explained that any phone found with a student inside the school is
subject to confiscation as per the Student Behaviour Management Regulations. Parents
are informed of the violation, and the phone is held for a month for the first
offense.If the violation recurs, confiscation continues until the end of the
school year.
Attendance is key
Samar Mohammed, principal of the School of Scientific Creativity, said
that monitoring attendance in each class gives the administration a clear
understanding of student attendance and helps identify patterns of absence
before they become recurring issues that waste learning time and affect
academic performance. She mentioned that the system identifies 'selective
absence' when a student is consistently absent from a specific subject or time
period, in addition to tracking repeated tardiness. This allows for early
intervention, investigation into the underlying reasons, and communication with
the family before the situation escalates.
Teacher Ribal Ghassan Al-Ata said that the teacher represents the first line of monitoring within the classroom. Picture credit: Supplied
Teacher Ribal Ghassan Al-Ata stated that the teacher serves as the first
line of monitoring within the classroom, whether it's recording attendance or
ensuring compliance with device regulations. However, the system's
effectiveness depends on efficient electronic procedures that do not disrupt
class time, and a central mechanism that takes over the follow-up process once
cases are identified.
She noted that the teacher's role starts with identifying and
documenting incidents, while addressing them requires collaboration among the
administration, student affairs, specialists, and the family. This ensures
timely intervention and prevents the sole responsibility of monitoring
violations from falling on the teacher.
Student Affairs Officer Sanaa Yahya explained that handling repeated
absences and violations of phone use is based on 'gradualism and
documentation.' This involves monitoring the situation, issuing warnings, and
communicating with the family, followed by guidance and administrative action
if the behavior continues according to established procedures.
She emphasized the importance of distinguishing between justified and
unjustified absences, and keeping administrative attendance records separate
from behavioral issues related to deliberate absence or skipping classes. She
highlighted that the goal is not to rush into punishment but to stop the
behavior and address its root causes before it impacts the student's regular
attendance and academic performance.
Full-time school schedule starts next week
Starting next Monday, the Ministry of Education will implement a
full-time school schedule for students. The Ministry of Education has approved
the full-time schedule for all educational levels, from kindergarten and the
first level to the second and third levels, with the schedules to be
implemented beginning next Monday. The schedules include specific times for
classes, breaks, and assemblies, with special arrangements for Fridays. The
number of classes per week varies from 24 for kindergarten to 32 for the first
cycle.
