SA’s pursuit of equality through handing out screens in class risks educational quality

South Africa's push for educational equity through the widespread distribution of personal screens in classrooms has sparked growing concerns about its impact on academic quality. With the country aiming to bridge the digital divide, many schools have adopted policies requiring students to bring personal devices such as laptops and Chromebooks. However, emerging research suggests that this approach may be undermining traditional learning methods and weakening core skills like deep reading. The debate gained traction after Denmark’s education minister, Mattias Tesfaye, announced measures to limit screen time in schools, framing the decision as a way to reclaim educational spaces for meaningful learning. His government has invested 540 million Danish kroner (approximately R1.4 billion) over ten years to reintroduce physical textbooks and reduce reliance on digital tools. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, public high schools have set a weekly screen usage limit of 10 hours, including time spent on homework. These contrasting approaches highlight diverging views on the role of technology in education. In South Africa, the shift toward screen-based learning began around 2017 and 2018, coinciding with the rise of digital infrastructure and the need to maintain continuity during the pandemic. Schools argued that personal devices improved access to content, enhanced digital literacy, and enabled remote learning. The government supported these efforts under broader initiatives like the 2020 National Digital and Future Skills Strategy, which aimed to align education with the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. As a result, enthusiasm for digital transformation grew, with many educators and policymakers assuming that screens inherently enhanced learning outcomes. However, over the past decade, mounting evidence has challenged this assumption. Since 2016, South African reading scores have shown a steady decline, raising questions about the long-term effects of screen-based instruction. The Revised National Reading Plan (RNRP), launched in 2021, acknowledged the challenges posed by the pandemic but failed to address the increasing dependence on digital platforms for literary engagement. With students spending more time reading on screens rather than printed materials, researchers warn that the cognitive processes required for deep reading, such as sustained focus and detailed comprehension, are being compromised. Developmental psychologists argue that the design of digital interfaces actively exploits the brain’s reward mechanisms, particularly among adolescents whose prefrontal cortex is still maturing. Laurence Steinberg, a leading expert in adolescent psychology, explains that the combination of a developing brain and technology engineered for engagement creates an environment ripe for distraction. This dynamic not only hinders academic performance but also raises concerns about the long-term implications for critical thinking and creativity. Despite these findings, the push for digital inclusion continues, driven by the belief that equitable access to technology is essential for preparing students for a rapidly evolving world. Critics, however, caution that equating screen time with educational value overlooks the importance of foundational skills and values-centered teaching. They emphasize that true educational equity should not come at the cost of compromising the quality of learning itself. As the debate intensifies, stakeholders are beginning to call for a balanced approach, one that integrates technology thoughtfully while preserving the strengths of traditional learning methods. The coming months will likely see increased scrutiny of current practices, with calls for more rigorous evaluation of the effectiveness of screen-based education and the development of strategies that promote both technological access and academic excellence. For now, the challenge remains clear: ensuring that the pursuit of equality does not inadvertently undermine the very principles of quality education.