Impact of Using Smartphone on Education System Among Secondary School Going Children at Pathantula Dipakkhik High School, Sylhet

Background: Smartphones have become essential in daily life, particularly among youth. Their usage in education has sparked debate regarding its impact on students' academic performance. Objective: To assess the impact of smartphone usage on the education system among secondary school students at Pathantula Dipakkhik High School, Sylhet. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2023 to April 2024. A total of 150 students (Class-VIII, IX, X) from Pathantula Dipakkhik High School participated. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. The study sample consisted of 67.5% females and 32.7% males, with the highest age group being 14-16 years old (74%). Descriptive statistics, including standard deviation and p-value, were calculated to analyze the results. Results: All 150 respondents reported smartphone usage. Among them, 69.3% had been using smartphones for 1-3 years. A majority (78.7%) spent 2-5 hours daily on smartphones, with 21.3% spending more than 5 hours daily. Positive impacts on education included effective learning (89.4%), increased productivity (72.7%), and improved academic performance (76%). However, negative effects were observed, including distractions during class and late-night usage. Statistical analysis revealed a standard deviation of 0.72 for study hours, with a significant p-value of 0.032 for academic performance. Conclusion: Smartphone use has both positive and negative impacts on education. To optimize its potential, seminars for students and parents should be conducted to raise awareness about proper usage.