New Regulations on Mobile Phone Usage
Staff Required to Surrender Phones, Students Prohibited from Bringing Devices
Shimla: The government of Himachal Pradesh has introduced a new policy prohibiting the use of mobile phones by both educators and students during school hours.
As per the new guidelines, teachers must leave their phones in the staff room before entering classrooms, while students are not permitted to bring their phones from home.
Officials indicated that this decision follows numerous complaints regarding the excessive time and focus that both teachers and students devote to their mobile devices. School administrators have been tasked with ensuring compliance and enforcing disciplinary measures for any breaches of this rule.
Impact of Mobile Phones on Health and Learning
Mobile Use Associated with Various Health Concerns
The Director of School Education, Ashish Kohli, stated that mobile phones have emerged as significant distractions in educational settings, adversely impacting teaching and learning quality. He noted that frequent phone usage contributes to issues such as anxiety, stress, sleep disturbances, social isolation, and vision and hearing problems among students.
Schools are required to post notices regarding the ban on their premises to ensure that all educators, students, and parents are informed of the new regulations.
Expansion of English-Medium Instruction
English Medium Instruction to Include Class VI
In a related development, the government has declared that English-medium instruction will be expanded to include Class VI in government schools starting from the 2025-26 academic year. Currently, English is the medium of instruction for Classes I to V. The plan is to add one class each year, aiming to cover Classes I to X by 2030.
The Education Department has sent out notifications to all district deputy directors and has instructed the publication of English-medium textbooks. Director Ashish Kohli mentioned that current teachers will receive training to teach in English, eliminating the need for new recruitment. Subjects such as Science, Mathematics, and Drawing will be taught in English, while students can choose to study Social Studies in either English or Hindi.
