Use of mobile phones banned in K-P schools

Ban aims to reclaim students’ valuable time for academic pursuits

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Elementary and Secondary Education Department has enacted a comprehensive ban on mobile phone usage within public sector schools, aiming to reclaim students’ valuable time for academic pursuits.

As per the issued notification, students and staff are mandated to surrender their mobile devices to school administration upon arrival, prohibiting their presence within classrooms. In case of emergencies, school heads will utilize landline phones to contact parents, while staff may only access their mobile phones during designated recess or free periods.

Read K-P schools to embrace technical education

Moreover, any photography or video recording necessitates prior approval from relevant school authorities. This directive has been communicated to all District Education Officers across K-P.

Official sources told The Express Tribune that a prevalent issue observed was the distraction caused by smartphones, diverting students’ attention away from classroom learning activities. Additionally, concerns were raised by parents regarding teachers’ preoccupation with mobile devices during instructional sessions, prompting the decision for this comprehensive ban.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2024.