The Education Ministry is still maintaining the regulation prohibiting students from using mobile phones in school under its circular 2/2009.

Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said a round-table discussion was held on Aug 25 involving interested parties among them headmasters, teachers and parents to discuss the usage of electronic communication devices by students.

“The ministry is sieving through the opinions and views of the community including academicians, non-governmental organisations, teachers, parents and school pupils before a final decision is announced,” said Muhyiddin, who is also the deputy prime minister, in his reply to a written question by Liang Teck Meng (BN-Simpang Renggam) in Parliament today.

Liang wanted to know the latest development on the ministry’s proposal to allow school children to carry mobile phones and electronic gadgets to school as well as its side-effects if the policy was implemented.

Muhyiddin said the ministry had carried out studies among school students and teachers to obtain their views on using communication devices in school.

He said the study involved 274 respondents in nine schools in the districts of Seremban and Port Dickson.

In July, the ministry proposed allowing students to carry communication devices such as mobile phones and iPads when schools reopen next year.  

However, the proposal received objections from parent-teacher associations all over on the premise that the move would invite more problems which could affect the pupils’ study.   

- Bernama