Abstract
In the 21st century, technology has been known to play an important role in stimulating teaching and learning exercises. Conversely, technology is seen as a tool which tends to distract learners and hamper their academic performances. Thus, this study investigates strategies that can be adapted for the control of online gadgets in order to enhance learners’ academic performances in the 21st century. Quantitative method was adopted for the study. Rural and urban based secondary schools were purposively selected, while 144 educators were randomly selected across the schools. The selected schools comprised 10 rural and 10 urban secondary schools in King Cetshwayo District, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Data were collected through the use of questionnaires which were administered to the 144 randomly selected educators. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS. The findings of the study showed amongst others that there is need for the use of online technological gadgets in schools to be legalized by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) under strict terms and conditions. Also, there is need for parents according to DBE to keep the gadgets during school hours and return them after school and week-ends. The study recommends amongst others that strong alliance on control of learners’ use of online gadgets should be formed amongst DBE, parents and educators.