On Tuesday, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, the home minister of Kerala announced the prohibition on use of mobile phones in schools up to higher secondary level.

Students in most of the city schools are not permitted to use mobile phones on campus. Many schools have realized the potential of misuse of mobile phones, and have restricted their use on school premises. In some instances, when students defied the rule, their phones were seized, and handed back only after course completion.

Students gave excuses of having mobiles for safety reasons, but most teachers consider that they are used for less worthy activities, which outweigh any benefits.

Mary Mathew, Principal, St. Thomas Higher Secondary School said, ‘Technology is often a double-edged sword and we want to make the students aware as to why they are restricted from using mobile phones on campus.’ And according to Jose Cyriac, Principal, St. Joseph Higher Secondary School, the ban on mobile phones in school has assisted in checking the swap of obscene pictures and messages between the students. X

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