The heads of government and government-aided schools have also been asked to prohibit the carrying of mobile phones by students to the schools and teachers to classrooms, laboratories and other academic areas. Heads have also been requested to provide a separate place for teachers to keep their mobile phones there.

The DEO has stated that the use of mobile phones by teachers even when they are on a silent mode impairs the teaching performance in the class.

The DEO said, “We have revised the CBSE’s circular in the new session. We have thus told the teachers to provide school landline numbers to their respective families. Similarly, it goes for the students as well. Principals are responsible to convey the message to the persons concerned.”

She added, “We have told the schools about possibilities of misuse of mobile phones, so strict vigil was needed .”

The DEO also said that there will be inspections in schools at regular intervals. There is no punishment fixed, but the circular says that phones shall be immediately confiscated from students.

“Principals at their own level should also keep a strict check on the usage of mobile phones by students or teachers,” said Rajinder Kaur.

Some teachers, on the condition of anonymity, said that there are many children, who bring mobile phones in their school bags.

The circular issued to all schools on May 2 reads, “Generally, it has been found that the use of mobile phones in schools causes distraction (Interferes with concentration) of the learning atmosphere as the students can use short messaging service (SMS) in the class and pay little attention towards studies.”

It also highlights the fact that the silent mode of cell phone can also equally impair teaching performance of the teacher in the class, camera phone many a time is used in an appropriate way in schools creating MMS scandals etc.

“Further, the CBSE has also directed to restrict the use of mobile phones in schools by teachers and students as the use of mobiles can be a serious cause of distraction, lack of concentration, anxiety, fear and sometimes even misuse,” the letter reads.

It has been stated that schools heads can provide the school landline number or some other alternative number from where teachers and students can make calls in emergency, if necessary.

The DEO said that these directions may be got signed from all the school staff members and intimated to students during the morning assembly and in classrooms by class in-charges. Notice to this effect can also be put up at the entrance of the schools and prominent places in the school for information of parents, students, teachers and visitors.