Liberal congressman Freddy Franco criticized the bill regulating the use of cell phones in educational institutions, which was approved with amendments by the Senate. For the lawmaker, restricting access to technology would represent a setback for Paraguay.
"Paraguay, besides being very behind in the technological field, going back to banning the use of cell phones does not seem to me to contribute to development or to bringing Paraguayans closer to the outside world," Franco stated in an interview with ABC Cardinal radio station.
The legislator argued that mobile devices are today a fundamental tool for accessing knowledge. "It is the only window we have to connect with the world, it is through technological means, and especially the most basic one is the cell phone," he said.
Franco acknowledged the importance of strengthening reading through physical books, but argued that both resources can coexist. "I believe you can chew gum and cross the street at the same time," he compared.
The congressman recalled that during the pandemic, thousands of students depended on cell phones to continue their academic activities and highlighted the effort many families made to acquire the devices. "We even had school activities through virtual means, thanks to the cell phone," he stated, adding that teachers themselves had to train to adapt to the new tools.
By linking the debate on cell phones to the recent approval of a law aimed at children with high intellectual abilities — of which he was the author —, Franco argued that Paraguay must invest in talent development to generate innovation and economic growth. "Perhaps we have another Facebook creator among some child in Ypehú. Perhaps we have a creator of a social network like Instagram in Yaguarón, or also a future creator of some cell phone app," he exemplified.
The lawmaker also questioned the lack of educational infrastructure in the public system. "I would like all public institutions in the country to have a computer lab," he said, pointing out that many public schools do not even have adequate spaces for technological learning. "Which public schools in Paraguarí or Caazapá have a computer lab? They don't even have one. Much less do they have a library," he criticized.
Franco pointed out what he considers a contradiction between the discourse of technological innovation and the intention to restrict cell phone use in schools. "We are talking about installing an artificial intelligence binational venture in the Republic of Paraguay, but here we want to ban children from using cell phones in institutions. It seems like a contradiction to me," he stated.
"First we must get closer to technology," insisted the congressman, for whom the country's development necessarily requires greater investment in education. "It is the only path through which we can develop our country, through a lot of education," he concluded.