Complete Ban on Mobile Phones During School Hours in Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh has imposed a complete ban on the use of mobile phones by both students and teachers during school hours.

According to the directive, students will not be allowed to bring mobile phones to school, while teachers have been instructed not to use them while teaching in classrooms.

Director of School Education, Ashish Kohli, has directed all deputy directors to ensure strict compliance with this order in schools under their jurisdiction. The notification states that teachers must keep their phones either in the staff room or in secure locations monitored by CCTV. Schools have also been asked to provide landline facilities and share the numbers with parents so they can contact their children in case of emergencies.

Officials explained that the ban has been introduced to promote meaningful teacher-student interactions and foster a more focused academic environment. Kohli noted, “Mobile phones are one of the primary sources of distraction for students. Their use consistently disrupts the learning process and negatively impacts both academic and non-academic performance.”

He further highlighted that excessive use of mobile phones contributes to anxiety, stress, sleep disorders, and social isolation, while also causing physical issues such as eye strain, hearing problems, poor posture, and sedentary lifestyles.

School authorities have been instructed to display clear notices regarding the mobile phone ban on notice boards to ensure a focused, productive, and safe learning environment.