The Andhra Pradesh government has called for restriction on the use of mobile phones in schools in the state.
Commissioner of School Education S Suresh Kumar issued a circular in this regard.
New rules
Students may not bring cellphones into the classrooms, while teachers are prohibited from using them during class hours.
The teachers have to submit their cellphones to the headmaster or headmistress (HM) before going to the classrooms.
Any administrative tasks undertaken on cell phones, such as marking students’ attendance will have to be done before or after teaching hours.
Motive
The decision has been taken in order to ensure there is no disruption to teaching.
It has been taken with respect to the Global Education Monitoring Report of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
The latest 2023 edition of the report said technology including smartphones must only be used in class when it supports learning outcomes.
Earlier instance
This is not the first time that such directives have been issued.
Teachers have been asked to stop using mobile phones in the classroom before but this was not being followed diligently.
“The mobile phone has emerged as the single electronic gadget that has been consuming class time of some teachers…It has been seen that many teachers take mobile phones into the classrooms during teaching hours for their personal use and not for any professional requirement.
This diverts teaching time in the classroom to other purposes that are unproductive for the academic improvement of children,” the circular said.
Negative role in dispersing education
Referring to a meeting chaired by state Education Minister Botsa Satyanarayana on August 3, the circular said, “The general consensus among teachers, union representatives and education experts was to restrict the use of mobile phones in the classrooms as the negative impact of mobile phones on learning outweighs its utility.”
Concerns came up that the use of smartphones had a negative impact on not only students’ academic performance but also well-being, cyberbullying and classroom dynamics between teachers and students.
Teachers using smartphones
Hence it was decided that teachers will have to deposit their phones with the HM of the school before going to the classroom.
“If a teacher intends to utilise a mobile phone for instructional purposes, its incorporation must be meticulously detailed in the lesson plan and should be approved in advance by the headmaster,” the circular read.
Disciplinary action
This also includes the use of mobile phones as internet hotspots.
Teachers found to be violating this rule will be given a warning.
They will then have to give an explanation to the Mandal and District Education Officers (MEO/DEO) on subsequent offences.
Exceptions
Students will also have to leave their cellphones in the staff room or with any employee of the school to be held during class hours.
In cases of emergency the HM’s permission will have to be taken to use them.
However, government-supplied devices such as Smart TVs and tablets are okay to be used for educational purposes.
