Teachers in Andhra Pradesh won't be allowed to use phone in schools

The Andhra Pradesh government limited the usage of phones in classrooms for teachers. Officials said the negative impact of phones outweighs their utility.

The decision was based on UNESCO’s Global Educational Monitoring Report which says students have difficulty concentrating even with partial access to a phone.

Teachers carrying phones will need to deposit their devices with school authorities after marking their attendance.

“It has been seen that many teachers take mobile phones into the classrooms during teaching hours for their personal use and not for any professional requirement,” the Andhra Pradesh government said in a statement, as per NDTV.

“This diverts teaching time in the classroom to other purposes that are unproductive for the academic improvement of children,” it added.

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Inspecting officers can also organise surprise checks in Andhra schools and punish anyone found in violation. Authorities can also seize the offender’s phone and take action against school officials.