education

Updated: Jul 12, 2020 16:35 IST

The Yogi Adityanath government has not issued any order to ban use of mobile phones by students in the state’s university and degree colleges, deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma said on Friday, refuting a report by news agency IANS.

“Yes, the students are expected to keep their phones on silent or switch off mode during classes so that teaching is not disturbed… That order already exists,” he said.

In its report, the news agency had claimed that the Directorate of Higher Education in Uttar Pradesh has issued orders to prohibit students and teachers from entering universities and colleges with a mobile phone.

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Dr Vandana Sharma, director, higher education, UP, said this was completely untrue. “No order has been issued by my office till date to ban cellphones in universities and degree colleges,” she told Hindustan Times.

An education department official said an order was issued by Kanpur’s Chhatrapati Sahuji Maharaj University on Wednesday that directed all heads of departments at the university and principals of affiliated colleges to ensure that students do not use cellphones in classrooms.

Dr Vinod Kumar Singh, the university registrar, said this order restricted use of phones in classrooms at institutions affiliated to the university.

An order issued by Dr Singh, accessed by Hindustan Times, said: “Use of mobile phone is strictly prohibited in classes. The students are expected to not speak over phone or engage themselves in WhatsApp or social media during class. Those flouting the order will be treated as act of indiscipline and may face action. It is essential to maintain the sanctity of classroom (sic)”.