The Gautam Buddh Nagar administration has issued a significant directive to all educational institutions within Noida and Greater Noida, encompassing government, aided, and private schools alike. This mandate specifically addresses the growing concern over students’ prolonged exposure to smart and digital boards during daily classroom instruction. The impetus behind this move stems from numerous complaints lodged by parents, who observed their children spending an alarming four to five hours daily in front of screens during regular school hours.
Under these newly implemented guidelines, a stringent cap has been placed on the duration of screen use via smart and digital boards. For primary students, this daily limit is set at a maximum of 30 minutes, while upper-primary students are permitted up to 60 minutes. To ensure adherence to these critical new regulations, designated magistrates and nodal officers have been tasked with the crucial responsibility of monitoring compliance across all schools within the district.
Parents’ associations have been vocal in expressing their concerns regarding the pervasive use of digital boards within classrooms. Reports indicated that schools were not merely employing these screens for presentations but had expanded their usage to include displaying textbooks, conducting classroom exercises, facilitating question-and-answer sessions, and even assigning homework. This extensive reliance on digital displays prompted the administration to clarify that smart boards should serve as a supplementary teaching tool, rather than becoming the primary medium for classroom instruction. The authority emphasized that while smart and digital boards can indeed enhance teaching effectiveness, their excessive application must not detrimentally impact students’ health, academic progress, participation in sports, or engagement in other vital activities.
In a concerted effort to mitigate excessive screen time, the guidelines explicitly advocate for the selective application of digital technology. Smart boards are to be primarily utilized for illustrating complex concepts, showcasing relevant images and videos, and presenting other enriching teaching materials. Conversely, for activities such as writing practice, exercises, question-and-answer sessions, and interactive classroom work, schools are now mandated to regularly revert to traditional blackboards, whiteboards, or greenboards. Furthermore, the administration has stipulated that schools must maintain appropriate screen brightness levels and ensure adequate classroom lighting. Students should also be strategically seated at an appropriate distance from screens and provided with regular breaks after approximately 20 minutes of screen exposure.
For educational institutions that conduct online classes, adherence to NCERT recommendations regarding session duration and breaks is strongly advised. The guidelines also reference the widely recognized “20-20-20 rule,” which suggests that after every 20 minutes of screen use, students should direct their gaze at an object situated at least 20 feet away for a duration of 20 seconds. This simple yet effective practice is intended to alleviate potential eye strain. The administration highlighted that prolonged exposure to screens can contribute to a range of issues, including eye strain, short-sightedness, headaches, and difficulties with concentration. Consequently, schools are actively encouraged to prioritize and increase activity-based learning, foster a love for reading and writing, promote sports participation, facilitate group activities, and encourage regular physical exercise.
A crucial component of these new directives involves proactive health monitoring. Schools are instructed to promptly notify parents if students exhibit symptoms such as eye irritation, headaches, or blurred vision, and to seek medical advice when necessary. Furthermore, a mandate has been issued for schools to conduct quarterly eye examinations for students and to share the reports with their parents. The School Management Committees are also expected to engage in thorough discussions concerning these guidelines on the balanced use of smart and digital boards and their impact on student health. The outcomes of these discussions are to be regularly communicated to parents during parent-teacher meetings.
To further reduce students’ reliance on digital screens, schools are encouraged to implement “digital-free periods,” “digital zero days,” and organize various “digital detox” activities. The overarching aim of these initiatives is to afford children greater opportunities for sports, creative endeavors, reading, and invaluable face-to-face social interaction. The implementation of these guidelines will be closely supervised by the designated magistrates and nodal officers, who will submit regular compliance reports through the District Inspector of Schools, Gautam Buddh Nagar. This comprehensive approach underscores a clear commitment to fostering a balanced education environment that integrates technological advancements while safeguarding children’s physical, academic, and social well-being.
