Parliament bans mobile phones in high schools
The use of mobile phones and other smart electronic devices by students has been banned in all high schools, under a law passed by parliament on Thursday.
While students are not prohibited from bringing their phones to school, they must have them switched off at all times.
The new rules apply to all grades across high schools and technical schools.
Certain exceptions do apply, such as for emergencies relating to health and safety. For example, where diabetic students need to use an app to measure their blood sugar level. Another exception is if a teacher expressly allows students to switch on their electronic devices for strictly educational purposes.
The Akel party had proposed an amendment where students in grades 1-3 would be banned from any use of their mobiles throughout the day, including during class breaks, but allow grades 4-6 to use them only during breaks. The amendment was defeated.
The education ministry later welcomed the development. In a statement, it said the aim was to create “a distraction-free school environment without disruptions to the teaching process, contributing to the emotional stability of students, limiting incidents of digital intimidation among students, and enhancing students’ overall wellbeing and academic performance”.
In remarks on the House floor, Disy MP Giorgos Karoullas said there had been a need to control the use of mobile phones in schools, as “the situation had gotten out of hand.”
According to the MP, around 25 per cent of students fall prey to “online intimidation” during class breaks.