The report on “Technology in education” published by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) has flagged that assessment data has found that mere proximity to a mobile device distracts students and has a negative impact on learning.

Large-scale international assessment data suggests a negative link between excessive use of technology and student performance, yet less than one in four countries have banned smartphone use in schools, according to the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) report.

Unesco has flagged that use of devices by students beyond a moderate threshold may have a negative impact on academic performance as the use of smartphones and computers disrupts classroom and home learning activity.