Education dept bans cellphones in schools

The Punjab School Education Department has introduced guidelines to ensure discipline and transparency in government schools.

District and tehsil education officers and school heads have been instructed to enforce these measures strictly. According to a circular issued by the department, the use of mobile phones during teaching hours has been banned for teachers, students, and non-teaching staff. Teachers are required to keep their phones on silent mode and hand them over to the head teacher during school hours.

The guidelines also emphasise professional appearance and orderliness. Teaching and non-teaching staff are required to dress formally, with teachers mandated to wear dress coats and closed shoes.

Students must wear name tags and uniform navy-blue jerseys, while class representatives will don CR sashes. A system of rotating head boys has been proposed to ensure all students have an opportunity to lead.

Schools are required to install soft boards displaying schedules, discipline charts, and general notices. Additionally, time boards must be placed at the main gates, and banners with motivational slogans should be prominently displayed.

The circular calls for organised record-keeping, with all documents uniformly covered. Students must use separate, covered registers for English, Urdu, Science, and Mathematics, replacing traditional notebooks.

Teachers are instructed to maintain diaries to record daily lessons. Classroom standards have also been set. The date, attendance details, and subject highlights must be written on whiteboards daily, alongside the day's topic and key points.

Students' uniforms, haircuts, and nails will be checked regularly to maintain hygiene and discipline. The department aims to create a structured, uniform environment to enhance the educational experience for students and uphold discipline across all schools.