A large study in the United States has established that extreme restrictions on cellphone usage in schools sharply cut down on students using devices yet failed to bring about any significant improvements in academic success.
The study, which is scheduled to be published in 2026 by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), analyzed data on over 40,000 schools during the years 2019-2026.
The research compared schools in locking polythene (Yondr) which is a company offering magnetic-seal cases allowing students to lock phones during the school day. Researchers matched such schools with other similar institutions that had less strict policies.
The data analysis of the data presented in the study also showed that, within three years, strict bans on the use of cell phones on the school premises led to a decline in the use of cell phones outside the classroom. This was approximately 30 percent in three years. This moved it down to about 13 percent. Of the total 61 percent....
Read the full story by Jeanna Francis in The International Business Times