Residential PU colleges tackle screen addiction with smart techniques

MANGALURU

The residential PU colleges in coastal districts are adopting a series of steps to tackle screen addiction among newly admitted students, many of whom have grown dependent, especially during the Covid-19 years. The district attracts students for pre-university education from several states and even NRIs. While there are day scholars, thousands of students complete their courses staying in residential facilities, where owning and using mobile phones are strictly prohibited. The students who used mobile phones until their grade 10, for the next two years, connect with their families only through landline phones or face-to-face meetings. “Suddenly detaching from the gadgets, which were part and parcel of their daily life until grade 10, and sticking only to books is a huge transformation for these young minds. The college does not permit owning mobile phones. At our college, considering their urge, a few months ago, we introduced tabs. However, they are used for educational purposes only,” said NK Vijayan Karippal, Principal of Expert College, Valachil.

Another college Principal of a residential school agrees with Vijayan and adds that this gadget addiction can be detached from individuals by keeping them busy academically and with other activities.

To ease withdrawal-like symptoms, some colleges have introduced controlled alternatives like academic tablets, while others permit monitored online access via desktops strictly for educational use.

A spokesperson for Excellent PU College, Moodbidri, said they allow the use of desktops and their browsing activities are monitored.

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Mohammed Sadakath, Principal of Alva's PU College, said the majority of them are addicted to mobile phones. “However, we have a strict policy on no mobile usage on campus. In my experience, it takes at least a month to come out of the need for mobile phones among these young minds,” Sadakath said.