A proposal by the Minister of Education to allow secondary school students to bring mobile phones to school, provided they remain switched off and in bags, has debate among lawmakers and educators.
Education Minister Athena Michaelidou, speaking at a House Education Committee meeting, suggested the measure could help manage issues such as bullying, online sexual abuse, and electronic gambling. However, the proposal has not been universally welcomed.
AKEL MP Christos Christophides questioned the logic of prohibiting mobile phone use for 18-year-olds while allowing them to carry firearms.
Michaelidou, citing research, argued that mobile phones harm children’s physical and mental health, as well as learning outcomes. She emphasised that the proposal is a “studied and balanced solution”, allowing students to have phones for emergencies but keeping them switched off during school hours.
The Minister also revealed that the EU Council of Ministers is set to discuss a document proposing restrictions on mobile phones in schools.
AKEL expressed strong opposition to the proposal. Christophides argued that the measure was “out of touch with reality”, noting that Cypriot children often use their parents’ phones from a very young age.
Other parties have expressed concerns but appear to support restricting mobile phone use in secondary education.
The proposal includes a suggestion for schools to show flexibility during the first year of implementation, should the measure be approved for this academic year.
Educational organisations were invited to the committee meeting but did not attend, with the president of OELMEK, a teachers’ union, suggesting their presence would have been pointless as they were not given an opportunity to speak.
