Dr Paul Effah, Foundation Registrar of the University for Development Studies (UDS), who made the suggestion, argued that this would enable students to concentrate fully in class knowing very well that they would have time to attend to their mobile phones.

Dr Effah said this when delivering a lecture at UDS in Tamale on Thursday as part of events marking the UDS’ 25th anniversary celebration.

His topic was: “UDS @25: Impact on National Development through Practical Higher Education”.

Dr Effah, who is currently Chairman of the Board of Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Institute for Scientific and Technological Information (CSIR – INSTI), was the acting Registrar of UDS when it was established on March 15, 1993, and the lecture was for him to give an account of how it all began and the impact it has made 25 years on.    

Dr Effah said “once the students get to know that they will have short breaks to check and send messages, they will be more inclined to focus on what the lecturer is teaching and to participate fully in the teaching and learning process.”

He said “this will minimize the frequency of students’ excuses to visit the washroom or to step out of class during lecture periods most of the time only to check and send messages on their phones.”

The high levels of smartphone use has been an issue at tertiary institutions as it disrupts lectures and a number of measures such as banning use of smartphones and blocking WIFI during lectures thus disconnecting internet in lecture halls have proven to be unsuccessful.

Dr Effah expressed the hope that the introduction of technology break would help address the high levels of smartphone use amongst students at tertiary institutions in the country.

He spoke about the 25 years of existence of UDS saying the period was used to prepare the ground for the take-off into the sustained growth and advised management to be creative and innovative to address challenges that the University would face in the future.

He said “the University’s mandate to focus on the pro-poor, and to help address poverty and environmental deprivations in the northern savannah zone is far from over. You require rekindled interest, commitment and dedication to embrace and address the set of challenges.”

He commended UDS for remaining focused on its mandate urging the University to continue to play an active role in the socio-economic transformation of the northern part of the country and the country in general.

Professor Gabriel Ayum Teye, Vice-Chancellor of UDS, called on faculties of the University to continue to work hard in spite of the challenges to promote the UDS’ agenda.

The UDS will climax its 25th anniversary in November.