New gaming centres in school

Article: Game time at schools by Lim Yee Hung & Melissa Tan The Straits Times 24/6/07

In view of the many advantage of opening a game center, Local Area Networking (LAN) e-gaming centres were set up in schools so as to keep their students away from LAN gaming outlets.
There are obvious advantages to such decision so that there are a number of local schools already have their LAN gaming centres located in their schools. Some of such schools are Montfort Secondary, Wellington Primary and Anglo-Chinese School (Independent). There are a number of reasons as to why the schools support this move.

Firstly, at commercial gaming outlets, students are exposed to bad influences such as smoking or swearing. As cited from the article, 58% of youth between 10 and 15 played or download computer or video games online. Thus, there is a need to guide these young users so that they will not pick up bad practices like smoking. In schools, the students’ gameplay will be monitored so as to ensure the students from not picking up the bad influences. For example, there is a teacher stationed in the gaming center at Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) so as to ensure discipline. Thus, parents need not to worry their child picking up the wrong things from wrong people as they enjoy their game online.

Secondly, students’ health is also taken care for in the game centres in schools. For example, at Wellington Primary School, students are to take a 15-minute break after an hour. They are to go to a reading corner so as to give their eyes a break. An OSIM eye massager is available in the centre. As myopia is one of the health problems associated to long hours of gameplay, thus under the monitor of the school, students are able to have fun in the center while paying attention to take good care of their health. Thus, the idea of having LAN centre is greatly supported in the schools.

On the other hand, the opening of LAN centres worries the shop owners of the commercial LAN centres as their business may be affected. There will definitely have a decrease in the number of younger customers patronising their shops. However, it is certain that the decision of opening a LAN centre in schools brings no harm to the students as they receive guidance as they play their game. It is also a more protected environment as compared to the commercial LAN shop where they are exposed to people from all walks of life – whether they are good or bad.