Let's make South African schools phone-free!

Recent signers:
Wendy Wallace and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

Please help us by sharing this petition! Please note that any petition donations made go to change.org, and not to SFC-SA. If you would like to support our awesome volunteer mission, we would so appreciate your support here: https://www.sfc-sa.co.za/donate/  

LET'S HELP OUR KIDS LEARN, AND OUR TEACHERS TEACH!

As a parent, are you worried that your child is spending time on their phone in class instead of learning? As a teacher, are you constantly interrupting your teaching to tell kids to put their phones away?

Modern parenting (and teaching) in the digital age is hard. We're competing with screens for the attention of our kids, and honestly - it's an unfair fight!

14 years of experience and research since the advent of smartphones has taught us some important lessons. Our kids need time out from screens - for their mental, social and physical health! 

Studies show that learners spend up to 20% of their classroom time texting, emailing, surfing the web, checking social media, and even playing games. Besides distraction, this is also linked to cyberbullying and sharing of inappropriate content, causing digital drama which all has to be resolved during valuable teaching time. 

Our children are losing valuable opportunities for learning, collaborating, engaging and socialising. And our teachers are frustrated too!

UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) has released a report raising concerns about the excessive use of smartphones, calling for them to be banned in schools worldwide: smartphones in schools and in the classroom are a distraction, undermining kids' attention, learning, relationships, and belonging.

South Africa's Constitution recognises that education is the basis for the (much needed) development of our country. And our kids deserve the best education they can get without unnecessary hurdles. 

Parents and teachers - let's stand together and take action now: support our petition to the Minister of Basic Education to ban phones from schools in South Africa!

Switch phones off, switch brains on!

For more info, reach out to info@sfc-sa.co.za | www.sfc-sa.co.za 

avatar of the starter
Smartphone Free Childhood South AfricaPetition StarterSmartphone Free Childhood South Africa is a not for profit, on a mission to shift the norms around the acceptable use of smartphones and social media in childhood. Together we are stronger - join us!

6,735

Recent signers:
Wendy Wallace and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

Please help us by sharing this petition! Please note that any petition donations made go to change.org, and not to SFC-SA. If you would like to support our awesome volunteer mission, we would so appreciate your support here: https://www.sfc-sa.co.za/donate/  

LET'S HELP OUR KIDS LEARN, AND OUR TEACHERS TEACH!

As a parent, are you worried that your child is spending time on their phone in class instead of learning? As a teacher, are you constantly interrupting your teaching to tell kids to put their phones away?

Modern parenting (and teaching) in the digital age is hard. We're competing with screens for the attention of our kids, and honestly - it's an unfair fight!

14 years of experience and research since the advent of smartphones has taught us some important lessons. Our kids need time out from screens - for their mental, social and physical health! 

Studies show that learners spend up to 20% of their classroom time texting, emailing, surfing the web, checking social media, and even playing games. Besides distraction, this is also linked to cyberbullying and sharing of inappropriate content, causing digital drama which all has to be resolved during valuable teaching time. 

Our children are losing valuable opportunities for learning, collaborating, engaging and socialising. And our teachers are frustrated too!

UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) has released a report raising concerns about the excessive use of smartphones, calling for them to be banned in schools worldwide: smartphones in schools and in the classroom are a distraction, undermining kids' attention, learning, relationships, and belonging.

South Africa's Constitution recognises that education is the basis for the (much needed) development of our country. And our kids deserve the best education they can get without unnecessary hurdles. 

Parents and teachers - let's stand together and take action now: support our petition to the Minister of Basic Education to ban phones from schools in South Africa!

Switch phones off, switch brains on!

For more info, reach out to info@sfc-sa.co.za | www.sfc-sa.co.za 

avatar of the starter
Smartphone Free Childhood South AfricaPetition StarterSmartphone Free Childhood South Africa is a not for profit, on a mission to shift the norms around the acceptable use of smartphones and social media in childhood. Together we are stronger - join us!

The Decision Makers

Ms Siviwe Gwarube
Ms Siviwe Gwarube
Minister of Basic Education, South Africa
Dr Reginah Mhaule
Dr Reginah Mhaule
Deputy Minister of Basic Education, South Africa
Mr Mathanzima Hubert Mweli
Mr Mathanzima Hubert Mweli
Director-General: Dept of Basic Education, South Africa

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Petition created on 31 July 2023