Keep Mobile Phones Out of Classrooms at Overseas Family School (OFS) Singapore
Keep Mobile Phones Out of Classrooms at Overseas Family School (OFS) Singapore
The Issue
CEO & OFS BOARD: KEEP MOBILE PHONES OUT OF CLASSROOMS AT OVERSEAS FAMILY SCHOOL (OFS)
Who is affected?
Students across our school are being significantly affected by the presence of mobile phones in our classrooms. These devices are a constant source of distraction, undermining students’ ability to concentrate, retain information, and fully engage in their education. Beyond academics, a growing body of independent scientific research has identified substantial harm to both mental and physical health from mobile phones. These include anxiety, depression, insomnia, and even serious long-term concerns including greater risks of biological harm including serious DNA damage, neurodevelopmental and cognitive damage, brain tumours, multiple types of cancers and more.
What is at stake?
While Overseas Family School attempts to prevent the use of mobile phones during class hours, many students lack the self-control to fully disengage from their devices. In fact, most leave their phones on and active at school despite not using them, resulting in hours of unnecessary exposure to EMF (electromagnetic frequency) radiation from 20-25 phones in the classroom, multiplying the associated health risks.
Globally health experts also continue to warn about radiation exposure as peer-reviewed, non-industry-funded scientific studies have shown a link between long-term mobile phone use and increased risks of cancer and tumors. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)—part of the World Health Organization—classified mobile phone radiation as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2B) in 2011. The American Academy of Pediatrics (2020) advises minimizing children’s exposure to mobile phone radiation due to their increased vulnerability to radiation in their growing years. Unfortunately, with so many live phones in the classroom in close proximity to students, this risk is not currently being minimized at OFS.
Further, a study by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and National University of Singapore (2023) found that nearly half of youths aged 15 to 21 show signs of problematic smartphone use. These individuals are 3 to 4 times more likely to experience moderate to severe depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Many also report physical discomfort and academic difficulties.
Additionally, if mobile phones remain in classrooms, we risk continued academic underperformance and declining student wellbeing. A 2024 Policy Exchange report found that schools enforcing mobile phone bans saw significantly better student outcomes—including higher academic grades and improved Ofsted ratings—even in schools with greater socioeconomic challenges.
Taken together, this evidence reinforces the wellbeing and academic benefits of removing phones from classrooms during school hours.
Why is now the time to act?
We must act now. In light of the evidence of cumulative and irreversible damage caused by phone use, we simply cannot afford to wait. Delaying change comes at a high cost to children, who are known to be more vulnerable to the health effects due to their stage of development. With that in mind, we must prioritize our students’ wellbeing now.
The sooner we create a focused, fully phone-free learning environment, the sooner we will see improvements in student wellbeing and academic success. This is a crucial step toward creating a more supportive, effective, and safer school environment for everyone.
Why is this the answer?
Though students are not meant to use mobile phones during class hours, these devices are designed to be addictive and it can be hard to resist if the phone is kept with students. From a physical health perspective, distance from the source of radiation, (mobile phones) is crucial to reduce the exposure level and the associated risks of biological harm.
Choosing to keep mobile phones out of classrooms is a simple step that comes at virtually no cost—students still have access to their devices before and after school, and in emergencies, students can go out to take their phones. Nothing essential is lost by implementing this change, but the potential risks we avoid—such as health problems, from cancer to declining academic performance, and mental harm—are significant. Meanwhile, the potential benefits, including improved focus, better grades, stronger social interaction, and enhanced health and wellbeing, far outweigh any minor inconvenience.
This is a simple, practical step that can make a profound difference to student’s health and wellbeing which has already been undertaken by multiple schools in Singapore and worldwide.
RESEARCH LINKS:
1. BioInitiative Report (2012)
A comprehensive review of over 1,800 scientific studies demonstrating
substantial biological harm from electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure (from mobile phone use and other sources), including DNA damage, increased oxidative stress, cognitive damage, cardiac issues, brain tumors and various cancers.
2. The Guardian – Mobile phones and cancer: the inconvenient truth (2018)
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jul/14/mobile-phones-cancer-inconvenient-truths
3. Policy Exchange – Disconnect: The Case for a Smartphone Ban in Schools (2024)
https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/disconnect/
4. London School of Economics – Mobile phones and student performance (2019)
https://cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/download/dp1350.pdf
5. American Academy of Pediatrics – Electromagnetic Fields & Child Health (2020)
https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/electromagnetic-fields/
6. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Press Release – Mobile phones classified as Group 2B carcinogen (2011)
https://www.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/pr208_E.pdf
7. Channel News Asia – Youth in Singapore who overuse smartphones more likely to have mental health issues (2023)
8. PubMed – Problematic smartphone use and mental health among Singapore youth (2023)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38936322/
9. The Straits Times – Teens and screens: How smartphones have created an anxious generation (2021)
135
The Issue
CEO & OFS BOARD: KEEP MOBILE PHONES OUT OF CLASSROOMS AT OVERSEAS FAMILY SCHOOL (OFS)
Who is affected?
Students across our school are being significantly affected by the presence of mobile phones in our classrooms. These devices are a constant source of distraction, undermining students’ ability to concentrate, retain information, and fully engage in their education. Beyond academics, a growing body of independent scientific research has identified substantial harm to both mental and physical health from mobile phones. These include anxiety, depression, insomnia, and even serious long-term concerns including greater risks of biological harm including serious DNA damage, neurodevelopmental and cognitive damage, brain tumours, multiple types of cancers and more.
What is at stake?
While Overseas Family School attempts to prevent the use of mobile phones during class hours, many students lack the self-control to fully disengage from their devices. In fact, most leave their phones on and active at school despite not using them, resulting in hours of unnecessary exposure to EMF (electromagnetic frequency) radiation from 20-25 phones in the classroom, multiplying the associated health risks.
Globally health experts also continue to warn about radiation exposure as peer-reviewed, non-industry-funded scientific studies have shown a link between long-term mobile phone use and increased risks of cancer and tumors. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)—part of the World Health Organization—classified mobile phone radiation as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2B) in 2011. The American Academy of Pediatrics (2020) advises minimizing children’s exposure to mobile phone radiation due to their increased vulnerability to radiation in their growing years. Unfortunately, with so many live phones in the classroom in close proximity to students, this risk is not currently being minimized at OFS.
Further, a study by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and National University of Singapore (2023) found that nearly half of youths aged 15 to 21 show signs of problematic smartphone use. These individuals are 3 to 4 times more likely to experience moderate to severe depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Many also report physical discomfort and academic difficulties.
Additionally, if mobile phones remain in classrooms, we risk continued academic underperformance and declining student wellbeing. A 2024 Policy Exchange report found that schools enforcing mobile phone bans saw significantly better student outcomes—including higher academic grades and improved Ofsted ratings—even in schools with greater socioeconomic challenges.
Taken together, this evidence reinforces the wellbeing and academic benefits of removing phones from classrooms during school hours.
Why is now the time to act?
We must act now. In light of the evidence of cumulative and irreversible damage caused by phone use, we simply cannot afford to wait. Delaying change comes at a high cost to children, who are known to be more vulnerable to the health effects due to their stage of development. With that in mind, we must prioritize our students’ wellbeing now.
The sooner we create a focused, fully phone-free learning environment, the sooner we will see improvements in student wellbeing and academic success. This is a crucial step toward creating a more supportive, effective, and safer school environment for everyone.
Why is this the answer?
Though students are not meant to use mobile phones during class hours, these devices are designed to be addictive and it can be hard to resist if the phone is kept with students. From a physical health perspective, distance from the source of radiation, (mobile phones) is crucial to reduce the exposure level and the associated risks of biological harm.
Choosing to keep mobile phones out of classrooms is a simple step that comes at virtually no cost—students still have access to their devices before and after school, and in emergencies, students can go out to take their phones. Nothing essential is lost by implementing this change, but the potential risks we avoid—such as health problems, from cancer to declining academic performance, and mental harm—are significant. Meanwhile, the potential benefits, including improved focus, better grades, stronger social interaction, and enhanced health and wellbeing, far outweigh any minor inconvenience.
This is a simple, practical step that can make a profound difference to student’s health and wellbeing which has already been undertaken by multiple schools in Singapore and worldwide.
RESEARCH LINKS:
1. BioInitiative Report (2012)
A comprehensive review of over 1,800 scientific studies demonstrating
substantial biological harm from electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure (from mobile phone use and other sources), including DNA damage, increased oxidative stress, cognitive damage, cardiac issues, brain tumors and various cancers.
2. The Guardian – Mobile phones and cancer: the inconvenient truth (2018)
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jul/14/mobile-phones-cancer-inconvenient-truths
3. Policy Exchange – Disconnect: The Case for a Smartphone Ban in Schools (2024)
https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/disconnect/
4. London School of Economics – Mobile phones and student performance (2019)
https://cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/download/dp1350.pdf
5. American Academy of Pediatrics – Electromagnetic Fields & Child Health (2020)
https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/electromagnetic-fields/
6. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Press Release – Mobile phones classified as Group 2B carcinogen (2011)
https://www.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/pr208_E.pdf
7. Channel News Asia – Youth in Singapore who overuse smartphones more likely to have mental health issues (2023)
8. PubMed – Problematic smartphone use and mental health among Singapore youth (2023)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38936322/
9. The Straits Times – Teens and screens: How smartphones have created an anxious generation (2021)
135
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Petition created on 1 June 2025