Dept. of Public Instruction issues circular to seize mobile phones

Bengaluru: Acting tough on students on rampant usage of mobile phones in schools and colleges, the Department of Public Instruction has issued a circular prohibiting the use of mobile phones in all primary, high school and pre-university colleges in the State. The government has given full powers to school authorities to seize the mobile phones if any students were found violating the order.

A Nov.22 circular, issued by the Department of Pre-University Education, says that the students of PU institutions coming under the PU Board, including government, aided and private colleges, are barred from using mobile phones during college.

The circular has been issued as per instructions from Chief Minister H .D. Kumaraswamy in the educational interest of the students as majority of them found glued in using mobile phones for social networking sites, neglecting their  studies and directed all colleges to strictly follow the instructions. The government has taken these measures as part of bringing qualitative changes in Pre-University Education Department.

The order has also directed the school and college teachers not use mobile phone during school hours as it can be distracting to students. Speaking to Star of Mysore, Deputy Director of Pre-University Education (DDPUE) Dr. Dayanand said this order is not new. The government had issued such an order two years back and the department is compulsorily following the order without giving room for violations. The circular comes amidst rising concerns over the rampant use of mobile phones by teachers and students.   

This order has been updated to hold headmasters and headmistresses of government schools responsible for ensuring that teachers and students do not use phones during school hours.

The circular was issued to create an ideal environment in schools and colleges. Students can also raise a complaint to the department officials when they see a teacher using their mobiles in the classroom. They can also report to their respective head master or headmistress when they observe someone breaching the rule.