GOVERNMENT BANS CELL PHONES, JUNK FOOD IN SCHOOLS

GOVERNMENT BANS CELL PHONES, JUNK FOOD IN SCHOOLS

It may seem little weird to some, but it is official—no cell phones will be allowed up to higher secondary schools across the country.

                The Department of Education (DoE) not only banned the use of cell phones in schools but also made it mandatory for parents to send only homemade launch for their children. DoE has reasoned that pervasive use of cell phones in schools has affected students’ performance and consumption of junk food such as readymade noodles and snacks can adversely affect children’s health.

                “The department took the decision two weeks ago and we first focus on convincing students and parents rather than imposing these decisions,” said DoE Director Dilli Rimal. Similarly, some educational institutions have expressed solidarity with DoE to implement the decisions. Some higher secondary schools have already banned the use of mobile phones in schools and adopted tough measures for defiance.

                “A number of schools in the Capital and outside have already taken such measures and they have hailed our decisions,” Rimal said. “But avoiding the junk food will take more time at the school level.” According to Rimal, the government directive is an outcome of a series of discussions held with school operators and parents who themselves complained about such practices.

                “The DoE move to ban cell phone on school premises was necessary to maintain order, especially in the secondary and higher secondary levels,” said Bijay Sambahamphe, general secretary of Private and Boarding School Organization of Nepal (PABSON). “Ban on cell phone does not prevent parents and their wards from communicating with each other before or after school,” he added.

                Meanwhile, the move seems to invite some dissension from a section of people who think that the decision is irrelevant and anachronistic.