The 2014 National Assessments of English Reading and Mathematics, carried out on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills, is the latest report published as part of a larger, periodical record of achievment in Irish Primary schools. These studies have been carried out every five years since 1972.

A report has found that children who own mobile phones and who spend more time watching TV and playing video games have lower mean scores in reading and writing compared to their other classmates.

Over a third of Second class pupils and over 90% of Sixth class pupils owned smartphones. Those in Second class who did not own a smartphone scored much higher in reading and maths than those who owned phones.

Over half (53%) of all Second class pupils and 62% of all Sixth class pupils who had a TV in their bedroom were found to have markedly lower scores in both reading and math than their student counterparts who did not have a television in their bedroom.

The study also showed the negative impact of long periods of time on the internet and playing video games:

'Sixth class pupils (21%) classified as high users of technology (based on time spent on the Internet and playing computer games) had significantly lower mean reading and mathematics scores than moderate users and those pupils'

Comments