Haryana teachers barred from carrying mobiles in classrooms

Chandigarh, Aug 3 (IANS) Taking the liberty of staying connected with the world while teaching can prove costly for government school teachers in Haryana. The Education Department on Thursday announced that teachers won't be allowed to carry mobile phones to classrooms.

Fresh guidelines issued by the Education Department could put teachers and school heads in the dock if they carry or use mobile phones in classrooms.

Outlining the guidelines, an official spokesman said here that "henceforth no teacher shall take mobile phone to the classroom.

"It shall be kept stashed away in the staff room or in an area earmarked by the head of school. The person the head of the school may like to make in charge of custody of cell phones may be head of school room, staff room, clerk or any other employee," the guideline said.

If for some unavoidable reasons, a mobile phone was required to be taken to the classroom for academic use, prior permission should be taken from the head of school with reasons to be recorded in a register to be maintained for this purpose, the spokesman said.

"To facilitate any emergency communication about teachers, it shall be ensured that the head of school makes available two contact numbers to all teachers. These two phone numbers for emergency call can be that of head of school, the second senior most in-charge of the school, or clerk or any other arrangement deemed fit by the head of school," say the guidelines.

The use of mobile phone during non-class hours shall be confined to the area removed from the classes.

The spokesman said any violation would lead to action against the head of school.

The spokesman said the guidelines have been issued following complaints that many teachers take mobile phones to classrooms during teaching hours.

"This amounts to misusing and diverting teaching hours to other purposes which are unproductive and do not in any way contribute to academic improvement of schools. This has to be checked," the official said.

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