Psycho-social counsellor, Rev. Cassandra Ankrah, has raised concerns over the negative impact of mobile phones on students in senior high schools, warning that they have become a major source of distraction rather than a learning tool.
Speaking on Bullet TV’s Morning Target, she argued that while students often claim they use their phones for research and academic purposes, many are not truly engaged in learning.
“Honestly, they are not even taking their lessons seriously in the name of, ‘We want to study, we are using the phone to do research, we need information.’ They are rather not learning,” she told Nana Kweku Aduah who co-hosts the show with Seli Acolatse Apaloo.
Rev. Ankrah emphasised that no technological tool can replace the role of a classroom teacher, stressing that effective learning requires interaction, connection, and hands-on teaching.
“If we want any tool to take the place of a classroom teacher, then the children are not going to learn. No tool can replace a classroom teacher unless, of course, we want to redefine learning,” she added.
She further lamented that mobile phones have significantly disrupted traditional learning methods, with students becoming more isolated and disengaged from collaborative discussions and practical assignments.
“The cell phone has taken the mind and brain of the individual student, so collective discussions are not even going on as they used to. You can see that students are not even trying to do their homework properly because of the phone,” she explained.
Despite acknowledging that mobile phones can serve as a communication tool for parents to stay connected with their children, Rev. Ankrah questioned whether their benefits outweigh the harm they cause in academic settings.
“As parents, the cell phone has caused us a lot of harm. If we say it helps because it allows us to reach our children easily, let’s ask ourselves—how did we manage when we were in school?” she asked.
Her remarks add to the ongoing debate about whether mobile phones should be permitted in senior high schools, with educators and policymakers grappling with the challenge of balancing technological advancement with disciplined learning.
