KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Bernama) -- The Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) is
against the Education ministry''s proposal to allow students to bring mobile
phones to school, contending that it would have more negative than positive
implications.
Its national chairman Prof Datuk Dr Mohamad Ali Hassan said students should
not be allowed to bring any electronic gadgets to school, including mobile
phones or iPad because this would not only distract them from their studies but
also create an unhealthy ''show-off'' culture among them.
He further pointed to the possibility of such gadgets being illicitly used
to make recordings, besides adversely affecting the students'' health in the long
run.
"Mobile phones should not be allowed during school hours. If it is after
school hours, that is up to the parents or guardians," he told Bernama here,
when asked to comment on the ministry''s decision to allow students to carry
mobile phones or iPads to schools, beginning next year.
Deputy Education minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong had said the ministry would
set guidelines.
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STUDENT-TELEPHONE (REACTION) (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR
Mohamad Ali dismissed students'' security as justification for the proposal,
saying schools are provided with public telephones for the students to call
their parents in case of an emergency.
Meanwhile, Parent Action Group for Education (Page) chairman Datin Noor
Azimah Abdul Rahim said there are pros and cons to allowing students to bring
mobile phones to school.
"It will help parents to track their children''s movements and allow students
to contact their parents in an emergency.
"However they should not be bringing sophisticated sets to school, which
would attract potential thieves. When there is a theft, time would be spent and
wasted while trying to look for the culprit and this would likely disrupt
classes," she opined.
-- BERNAMA
SS3 AKT ELM JRL

