The Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture (M.E.S.C.), Matafeo Falanaipupu Aiafi, has confirmed that there is a policy banning all cell phones from schools.
But he reminded that the policy does not give schools the right to hold on to phones.
“There is a policy,” he said. “No students are allowed to bring their phones to school both in and out of the classrooms. That includes within the compound.”
According to Matafeo, the policy was enforced last year. However, students were still found with cell phones in schools.
“If a student is found, their cell phone will be confiscated, put in the principal’s office until a parent comes to claim it,” he said.
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The policy, Matafeo said, was to prevent students from being distracted from their school work as well as having access to pornography sites which has been an issue recently.
“There is too much disturbance. Students waste a lot of their teaching and learning time on cell phones.”
Asked if the teachers were allowed to hold a student’s phone for a year, Matafeo said that it is not appropriate for teachers to do so.
“No, give them back to the students,” said Matafeo.
“As long as a parent shows up to claim the phone or until school is finished.” Matafeo said that the policy is enforced in not just one school but all government schools.
“There are computers in schools that students can use to do their studies so there’s no need to use a phone”.
“If there is an emergency, students can always use the phones at the school office to call their parents”.
Matafeo urged parents to look out for their children and disallow them from using cell phones because it can have a huge impact on their educational life.
“We need to inform parents”, said Matafeo.
“Students need to concentrate on their teaching and learning - that is the reason behind why we have passed this policy”, he said.
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