Noida Schools Limit Screen Time for Young Students

Schools across Noida and Greater Noida have received directives from the district administration to cap daily screen time for students. Primary school children will now have a maximum of 30 minutes of screen time per day. Upper-primary students will be allowed up to 60 minutes of daily screen exposure. These measures were implemented after parents' associations reported that children were spending excessive hours on smart and digital boards, leading to health concerns.

The administration emphasized that while digital boards are valuable teaching tools, their continuous use should not negatively impact students' health, studies, or other activities. Potential issues like eye strain, short-sightedness, headaches, and reduced concentration were cited as reasons for the new guidelines. Schools are directed to use smart boards for explaining complex topics and displaying visuals, rather than for continuous textbook display. Traditional blackboards or whiteboards are to be used for writing and interactive sessions.

Further recommendations include maintaining appropriate screen brightness and classroom lighting, ensuring students maintain proper distance from screens, and implementing breaks after approximately 20 minutes of screen use. For online classes, schools must adhere to NCERT guidelines and the 20-20-20 rule for breaks. Schools are also encouraged to promote activity-based learning and digital-free activities. Designated officials will monitor compliance with these new screen time regulations.