"Globally, 85% of guardians are dissatisfied with the digital textbooks pilot project (PPMD) and would like it to end. Only 15% have a positive perception in 2024", according to the survey's conclusions.

Conducted by the Less Screens, More Life Movement, which has already requested a hearing with the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, the study is the result of 462 responses from schools in almost 70 locations, from north to south of the country and islands, with representation from the 3rd to the 12th grade.

According to the study, 90% of guardians say they prefer paper books because they allow students to concentrate more and only 8% prefer digital textbooks.

More than half (51.1%) of respondents say that their students learn worse when they study with digital textbooks because they retain less information and almost a third (33%) continue to buy paper textbooks.

Two out of five (41.3%) say that students get distracted by the Internet, namely by videos, games and social networks, and 34% report that students do not like to study with digital textbooks.

The Less Screens, More Life Movement also warns that half of the guardians have never tested whether the equipment used by the student has filters that prevent the viewing of adult content and, of those who tested, 14% refer to the non-existence of these filters.

The movement recalls that PPMD, which aims to replace paper textbooks with digital support, is in its fourth year of implementation and currently covers more than 23,000 students from the 3rd to the 12th grade, from 160 pilot schools.

Although every year those involved fill out official surveys about the project, the movement regrets that since 2021 there has been no official information on the perceptions of guardians, teachers or students, which is why the survey now released was carried out.

"After four years, it is difficult to find anyone who has positive opinions about PPMD", warns the movement, in a letter sent to the Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre.

Formed in January by four mothers who are teachers, the movement is also promoting a survey among teachers, which according to the data collected so far reveals "an overwhelming majority of teachers dissatisfied with PPMD".

The Less Screens, More Life Movement wants to raise awareness and inform about the harmful effects of excessive exposure to screens in childhood and adolescence, namely "intellectual regression, health problems and a certain dehumanization caused by the excessive use of technology by children".

Read also: Nepalese child. Without "case identification", minister calls for denunciation (Portuguese version)