DepEd backs cellphone ban

EDUCATION Secretary Jesli Lapus has expressed full support to the proposal of Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez for a nationwide ban on mobile telephones in schools to put an end to class mischief, including test cheating with the use these hi-tech gadgets.

The education chief lauded HB 4246, authored by Rodriguez who claimed that aside from cheating during examinations, cellular phones are also being used by students in making prank calls such as reporting false bomb threats to achieve early dismissal of classes.

He said that some features of cellular phones, particularly games compete with the student’s attention.

“We favor the total ban of cellular phone in schools. It distracts from their school lessons especially play hi-tech games,” Lapus said.

He said that some schools, particularly in private and exclusive schools, have banned cellular phones inside school premises.

Rodriguez noted that police have expressed alarm over the upsurge in cell phone-related crime incidents victimizing many students. By: Alvin Murcia Journal online