UAE: Digital distraction or better learning? Students debate future of education

UAE: Digital distraction or better learning? Students debate future of education

Technology has firmly established its presence in people's daily lives – from the workplace to homes, and now it has become an indispensable part of education.

Nowadays, a school bag filled with books and notebooks is no longer the norm in schools across the UAE. Many students carry a tablet or laptop as it is what is needed to complete school work.

Abdulrahman Jamal, a Grade 12 student at the Applied Technology School, shared with Khaleej Times: “We used to carry tens of books with us to school, but now we have all these books in a compressed application."

“We can take notes and pictures and stay active in class through our digital learning. We must encourage this method of learning and try to make it more efficient for students,” he added.

In many countries such as the UAE, the use of digital devices has increased by 99 per cent since 2020, after the Covid pandemic, according to LearnPlatform.

Special restrictions

Technology has certainly shaped education, but with its domination in the classroom comes some disadvantages, according to Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Digital distractions have been linked to lower academic performances for some students.

Providence English Private School Grade 11 student, Fardad Kamran, said: “We