Mobile ban in CBSE schools

Updated on: Friday, August 21, 2009

Kolkata: They lead to “distraction, lack of concentration, anxiety, fear and sometimes, even misuse”. Blaming the mobile phone for a host of ills, CBSE has sent a circular to schools banning their use on campus. Both teachers and students are being brought under the purview of the ban. The West Bengal secondary board is also coming up with similar restrictions.

The CBSE circular has asked students carrying cellphones to submit those to teachers before classes begin. “All stakeholders connected with school education such as students, parents, teachers and heads of institutes need to arrive at a consensus on the use of mobile phone in schools and restricting its entry on the campus,” the circular states.

It has also asked the principal, teachers, and non-teaching staff not to use cellphones in classrooms, playgrounds, common areas, laboratories and other parts of the school.

The central board is also against allowing cellphones on the silent mode. “Even if mobiles are kept silent, they can be a source of disturbance in the classroom as students can make use of Short Messaging Service (SMS) during class hours or even during an assignment. The cameras, a common feature in most mobile phones now, can also be misused,” said CBSE chairman, Vineet Joshi from Delhi.

Taking the cue from CBSE, some city-based ICSE schools are contemplating similar restrictions on cellphones. St James’ School is a case in point. “I have clearly laid down rules that debars students from bringing mobiles to school. In case they have tuitions after school hours and parents need them to carry cellphones, students have to submit the mobiles to their class teachers before classes start. In case anyone is caught with a mobile phone during surprise checks, the set will be confiscated and returned only when they pass out of the school,” said principal T H Ireland.

Sunirmal Chakraborty, principal of La Martiniere for Boys, held a similar view. “I have asked teachers not to use their cellphones in classes. They can only use cellphones in the staff room as that is private space,” he said.

In a bid to help students call their guardians in emergency, Don Bosco, Park Circus, has installed payphone services within the school compound. “Whenever we needed to call home, we can do so using a one-rupee coin,” said one of the former students of Don Bosco.

Mamta Roy, president of West Bengal Board Of Secondary Education, was of the same view. “We need to restrict the use of cellphones so that calls, short messages or cameras don’t come in the way of teaching inside the classroom,” Roy said.

Shukla Roy, principal of Bethune School, was not bothered which board has issued the circular. To her, the directive is more important than the board. “No matter which board has issued the circular, there is no denying that cellphones create a nuisance inside classrooms. They should be prohibited. We seize the sets in case we find our students carrying them in the school compound,” Roy said.

The Bethune principal wants teachers and nonteaching staff also to follow the prohibitory clause. Echoing the CBSE circular, Roy endorsed the idea of installing a central system for teachers and students to receive calls.

Mobile ban in CBSE schools

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