Mobile phones are not allowed on school property, according to the Ministry of Education, which has also set clear guidelines for inspecting and seizing phones that are discovered in students' possession.
Based on Ministerial Resolution No. (851) of 2018, the Ministry issued a circular banning mobile phones in schools and kindergartens to promote positive behavior and protect students. Shared via social media, the circular requires schools to run regular phone checks, limited to bags and belongings, while ensuring privacy and respecting students’ rights.
Five Key Reasons for the Ban:
1. Preventing Cheating:
The main purpose of the ban is to stop academic misconduct. Smartphones allow quick access to the internet, messaging apps, notes, and cameras, making it easy for students to cheat by searching for answers, sharing information, or even photographing exam papers.
2. Ensuring Fairness:
Using phones, even as calculators or clocks, creates inequality. Not every student has the same device or features, which could give some an unfair advantage over others.
3. Minimizing Distractions and Stress:
Even when unused, the presence of a phone can cause anxiety or break concentration—whether from notifications or the temptation to check it. Exams should remain calm, focused, and distraction-free.
4. Preventing Paper Leaks:
Phones are often misused to capture and spread exam papers on social media. Such leaks harm the credibility of the institution, disrupt exam schedules, and sometimes require retakes.
5. Encouraging Discipline and Integrity:
The ban reinforces responsibility and academic honesty. It ensures students rely on their own abilities, promoting values like independence, integrity, and discipline that benefit them far beyond school.
