No cellphones in K’taka schools from October 5

The karnataka government will enforce a ban on the use of mobile phones in private and government schools and junior colleges from October 5,

The karnataka government will enforce a ban on the use of mobile phones in private and government schools and junior colleges from October 5, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Basavaraj Horatti announced on Saturday.

The ban being enforced under powers available to the Government under Section 133 of the Karnataka Education Act is being brought in to primarily protect children, the minister said, following a meeting with health and law officials on the mode of enforcing the ban.

“A circular will be issued to all schools and colleges outlining the rules by October 5. We intend to make the head of the institutions responsible for preventing the use of mobile phones on campus. Teachers too will not be allowed,” said Horatti. He, along with BJP Health Minister R Ashok, mooted the proposal citing health and distraction in school as reasons.

Seizure of the mobile phone will be the penalty for using phones in schools and junior colleges, he said. The minister said that the decision to go ahead with the ban had been taken after consultations with parents, teachers, mobile phone companies, and health, law experts. A ban on sale of mobile phones to people below 16, as proposed earlier, has been dropped now, he said.