Ban on use of mobile phones by JHS students advocated

Sunyani (B/A), July 19, GNA - Some school authorities in the Sunyani Municipality have advocated a ban on the use of mobile phones by Junior Hig= h School (JHS) students in schools.

The school authorities called on parents to check their children against the misuse of mobile phones and asked students to concentrate on their studies and avoid acts that would jeopardize their future.

Mr. Andrew Andoh, Assistant headteacher in charge academics at St. Patrick JHS, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani on Tuesday that th= e usage of mobile phones by students on campuses and in classrooms affected teaching and learning.

He said the school had seized phones from students only to see them with new ones the next day. Mr Andoh said 93When you ask them why they bring the phones to school= , they will tell you that their parents are out of town or the country and they easily communicate with their parents on the phones".

Mr. Takyi Donkor Benjamin, a science teacher at Wesley Preparatory and JHS, advised students to be serious with their studies, and reminded them o= f their obligation to learn hard to enable them to pass their examinations. He said the seizure of phones by school authorities had resulted in misunderstanding between teachers and some parents.

Some of the students told GNA that their parents always travel and the= y (children) needed mobile phones to be in contact with their parents whilst others said the phones were sources of entertainment to them.

Miss Nana Adjoa Amponsah Opoku, a student of Wesley Preparatory and JHS, said students used mobile phones to browse the internet for vital information and for calculating mathematical figures and a ban would pose a problem to students.