No more cell phones in school

No more cell phones during supervised school sessions.

This is a decision that will soon be employed by the education ministry as part of efforts to steer the influence of technology on the education system in the right direction, Minister of Education Petter Saint Jean has said.

The minster said the decision was taken at the 21st meeting of the Education Ministers of the Oorganisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), and is to be applied to all OECS islands. The meeting concluded last Friday in Tortola.

“We are of the view that the spread of cell phones is inseparable from the spread of new and emerging technologies through our society.  The education system has an obligation to teach the students the how(s) and why(s) of the use of the technology,” Saint Jean said.

He said there would be specific protocols adopted to govern the use of cell phones when the decision is formally taken to the various educational institutions.

“Basically, students will not be allowed to use mobile telephones during class, while on the school compound and during any school activity. And all cellular phones must be turned off. In the cases where a student is found using a cell phone during school hours or on the school’s compound, then the principal would be within their right to confiscate it,” the education minister explained.

He assured that the handset would be returned to the child following consultation with the “relevant authority”.

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35 Comments

  1. sir paul goodwill secondary school
    September 21, 2010

    VERY GOOD DECISION INDEED THUMBS UP TO THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

    • YESSI
      May 8, 2011

      sir paul eh ..ikr..buh nw n den dem classes does be boring n sinne u check ..thumbs down :!:

  2. Kanpeche
    September 21, 2010

    @mouth of the south:

    Much respect to you as well. I admire healthy debate of sound mind…And yes, you made many valid points.

  3. Nathaniel Peltier
    September 21, 2010

    @Rocks: Being backward. I really do not know what world you are living in but it seems that you have missed the pitch totally. Let the children decide what call are important come on at that stage what could be more important than you education. Emergencies can be reported to the school.
    When out of 30 students in a class 15 get an important call every 3 minutes. What is order in the class going to be like.

    I see nothing wrong with the above article. It is being done world wide.
    So what is the problem.

  4. hola from SanDiego
    September 21, 2010

    the laws should also be for Teachers,the school should have a phone & parents should kn..it in case of emergency ,Teachers should get a fine for using cel phones during lesson’s.

  5. bonita from SanDiego
    September 21, 2010

    I support the minister for banniig cel phones at school, children should not have phone during school hour”s after school is over u may have your phone’s,the parents should be happy about it.

  6. 2nd round k.o
    September 21, 2010

    @Kanpeche: garcon i jus get up dere,,,,it bout 2 a.m,,, allu fellas still on dat,,,, o.k i see wat u sayin,,,but d man get u again my boy,,,,, wat d man tell u to spend a day in the roseau market to learn common language mmmmoooooooddddddaaaaaassssssss,,,,, doh do me dat,,,, mouth of sorte hhhmmms soorrryy mouth of south lashing u bad dere my boy,,,,,but kampy d same ting u saying dat wat the man sayin all d while,,, dat is why i give it to mouth of the south the first time,,, is u dat doh understand man i being fair,,,,,,,, so imma do like marlene dis time n tell u is out i going kaaabbbooooommmm

  7. mouth of the south
    September 21, 2010

    @Kanpeche: garcon i not a woman but i will tell u for the last time,,,,when i said dem girls should not be sexting at all,, i was not referring to the authorities,,,but simply stating children should not have it in the first place,,,,u speak with such intellect but fail to understand common language,,,,u must spend a day in d roseau market wii man,,,, n when u said my link giving ur argument back up,,,, n i gonna quote u
    “This is what I stated: He is talking about using that type of tech to enhance the overall learning experience.”
    ok my boy n here’s wat i said from the very first statement b4 u enter d picture
    ” the use of technology in the classroom can enhance our learning” so tell me,,,isn’t that what i’ve been sayin all along my brother,,,,n e other blogger can double check too see if i lying,,, so it was u who misunderstood my statement from the beginning,,,then u take one piece i doh care bout n now we have big dialogue,,,,, well i’m a debater like u so come proper,,,,,, oh n one more thing,,,, somebody doh have to tell u dey hate u for u to know,,,, action will let u know,,,,,,,well if they say students can’t use technology during school hours,,,or on school compound or during school activity,,,,,,, then my bros kanpeche,,,it simply mean it is banned u get it,,,, but for publicity sake n public relations my brother they won’t use the word “banned” jus like rite now obama doh wanna use the term “stimulus package” but that is jus wat he gonna give dem again,,,,,,, u see wat i sayin,,,,,,,, oh n one ting no apologies necessary i admire sound arguements

  8. Rocks
    September 20, 2010

    @Reality: Dude you are absolutely ridiculous…..

  9. Rocks
    September 20, 2010

    That’s just some bull….Dominica being backwards again….We always find a way to make our kids feel like they are not as responsible as kids from other islands, regions and nations. I think we should allow our kids to exercise judgments as to what call is important and what call is not. The teacher should be flexible enough to excuse a student if he/she think a call is important and needs to take it. Of course phones should be on silence so they don’t disturb the class. During exams all cell phones should be turned off. But to ban cell phones entirely is totally ridiculous. But again its Dominica at its best.

  10. Kanpeche
    September 20, 2010

    @2nd round k.o:

    Read my reply to him. Read both of our arguments again; and you will see that the link he actually provided supports what I initially stated. Common.

  11. Kanpeche
    September 20, 2010

    With all due respect, you are still not getting the article. The minister never stated that phones would be banned. Yet, you stated: “so yes educate them about the uses of it,,, but how is that possible when it is banned,,,,” Again, he never said it was being banned. He said that students will not be allowed to use mobile phones in school.

    Next: Your link actually gives evidence to what I stated previously. This is what I stated: He is talking about using that type of tech to enhance the overall learning experience. Meaning: How can we integrate the technology of the ipad through existing school and web technology to teach the kids about technological integration and interface; and to gain access to educational information that will supplement their text book learning.

    Thanks for providing more evidence to support my argument.

    Here is what you said again, “we doh want our children especially dem lil girls dat playing big woman to be sexting during school but oh no they should not be doin it at all.” The guy never said it should not be done at all, ok. Again, monsieur dire, pas faire call en laikol.

    Here is my evidence that you are wrong about Bloomber: http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Mike_Bloomberg_Education.htm

    He actually enforces the ban on cell phones. Here is part of Bloomberg’s policy on cell phone ban:
    http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolPortals/18/K285/AboutUs/Policies/default.htm

    Ok, now. Let us go back again: Read the article. Read my comments carefully. Read your support of my argument via your link. Read what you said about Bloomberg…then send me an apology…Just kidding

  12. xtra forever young esprit
    September 20, 2010

    hi i am a student of the dominica state collede and i am not against the banning of the cell phones..but i strongly believe dat in this century we living in ..these times there….those students will jus not abide by the rules…schools may think that students didnt come with there phones but yes they will..they hiding there phones wherever ..and wen they in class wen u think they’re watchin the teacher and listening …theyre textin away ..jus like how u can type without watchin the keyboard they can text without watchin the screen and have theyre phone between their legs ,,,or somewhere else..i jus believe that this wont work out …althought i love my phone ..but if its a rule ill abide..but not everyone is like me

  13. Reality
    September 20, 2010

    Students should not be allowed to come to school with cellphones period. If you allow these students to come with their cellphones and tell them to turn it off and not make any calls do you think that this will work? I don’t think so….. they will still be using the cellphones anyway…how will the teachers see all these students.At our school we have banned cellphones completely…Some parents will even come up with the excuse that they need to contact their children if it’s an emergency..they could always call the school..Back when i was going to school we had no cellphones..yeah yeah yeah…some will say that we are living a different century…but look at what is going on with our kids in this new era..it’s nothing good…children go to school with guns and machetes..They will still encounter problems with the kids bringing their cellphones to school so for that reason it should be banned completely….When i just started teaching in st maarten it was a bit of a shock to me to see all the kids with their cellphones in class..I mentioned this to the principla and she told me that they did not want to put too many rules on the kids…that’s why the kids here in st maarten are getting out of hand..eventually they had to ban it completely cause it was causing too many problems

  14. Watcher
    September 20, 2010

    @curious: Rules must be adhered to. Pls dont say it cannot stop. Teach your children if you do have to respect rules and regulations then we won’t havae a problem.

  15. lolsz
    September 20, 2010

    tht is nonsense we never were allowed in the first place

  16. de caribbean change - BBA, MBA, CPA
    September 20, 2010

    If there is an emergency, then the parent or guardian would have to call the School Office to relay the news and then the information would be relayed to the student at the appropriate time. All cell phones turned off whilst classes are in session. Likewise an emergency at school, the teacher would have to inform the Office, and the Office would have to call the parent or guardian. Bottom Line! That’s it, children.

  17. Anonymous
    September 20, 2010

    so who woman or man enough to take my cell fone when i up college rolling?? try me just try me ….a big man like me allu sayin i cah use my fone on compound

  18. 2nd round k.o
    September 20, 2010

    my boy kanpeche,,,, mouth of sorte oopppss mouths of the south knock u out dere wii boy,,,, link n e’re ting,,,,, allu man must read first,,,, d man say the use of technology in classrooms can enhance learning,,,,, d man doh say cell phone,,,,, read garcon read,,, it doh rite to like to play intelligent lol like diddy will say,,,, take that,,,,take that huh

  19. Too much stuff
    September 20, 2010

    Great idea! in the US the child would not get the phone until the end of the school term and the parent would have to go for it; that was at my child’s school. Also befor cell phones there was less problems at schools, if a student has a problem with another student he uses that phone to call someone from outside to come wait to fight for him after school; also remember our the phone is not only being used to make calls but to surf the net, chatting and so on. Therefore I support this 101%

  20. mouth of the south
    September 20, 2010

    @Kanpeche: weh papa u using dem high skilled word to sound intelligent,,,,, did i ever say students should use cell phones while class going on,,,,, now u said mr bloomy doh want the use of ipads,,,,,well check out wat going on in the states look a link http://www.macworld.com/article/153672/2010/08/ipaded.html

    nothing i wrote pertained to the use of cell phones in class,,, in fact i gave out some useful help to parents dat want to keep track of there kids whereabouts,,,,,,but no papamet in ur quest to sound intelligent u bypass all that n attack my opening statement,,,,ooopppsss sorry maybe u did not read all,,,,a dirty habit allu have,,,,well on the daily news mr bloomberg did insist on ipads for students being a thing in the very near future (dats why i like holding my newspapers) n again i’m gonna quote from ur statement

    “How can we integrate the technology of the ipad through existing school and web technology to teach the kids about technological integration and interface; and to gain access to educational information that will supplement their text book learning.”

    my boy i educated behave ur self,,, all that intelligent talk mean is they are gonna start letting students use the damn thing,,,,,,how else can dere be integration if its not physically in the school huh,,,,, so stop tryna play intelligent on us,,,,,wheel n come again

  21. Kanpeche
    September 20, 2010

    @mouth of the south:

    Better yet, why don’t you give every child an ipad, have then sit on Mero beach, and take all their classes online – while they are texting on their blackberry and listening to bouyon on their ipod…UNREAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    The DA educational system is on the verge of tearing at the seams, and you are condoning use of cell phones while school is in session? Go back and read you comments, and come again.

    Common, man. Bloomberg is not talking about ipads and iphones in use while a lecture is in progress. He is talking about using that type of tech to enhance the overall learning experience. Meaning: How can we integrate the technology of the ipad through existing school and web technology to teach the kids about technological integration and interface; and to gain access to educational information that will supplement their text book learning. As a matter of fact, Bloomberg’s Department of Education policy forbids use of cell phones in school; and cell phones are confiscated if the rule is broken.

  22. Kanpeche
    September 20, 2010

    Some of the comments I have read show exactly why the decision was made. This is what the minister say ” Basically, students will not be allowed to use mobile telephones during class, while on the school compound and during any school activity. And all cellular phones must be turned off. In the cases where a student is found using a cell phone during school hours or on the school’s compound, then the principal would be within their right to confiscate it.” He never said that there should be no cell phones. There is a difference between having a cell phone and using it. I can have a phone in my bag, and no one will know if I do not take it out and use it. Read, people. Read.

    If grown men and women commenting on DNO can’t decipher a simple article, and misrepresents what the whole story says, how the hell do you expect a 10 year old to understand a simple sentence structure and be on the phone at the same time. With all the tech evolution taking place, we must not forget that school is for learning. If you are at the University level, and you decide to throw you good money away by being on the phone while the professor gives his lecture, then fine. However, we are talking about children.

  23. Desy
    September 20, 2010

    I applaud this decision very much Mr. Minister,some students are really going way overboard with this cell stuff,but are you aware that many teachers are also culprits more so than the children?They stop to answer their phones in the middle of a lesson.The teachers at P.S.S ARE RENOWNED FOR THAT.I remember one child being so upset, when he came home saying that the phone rang and the teacher answered and ran out of the class without any excuses or apologies before or after.Based on what the child reported it was obvious to him and his other classmates that she was having a conversation with her lover.Now was that role modelling for children.Children in the area who attended this school always complained about this teacher.Even when brought to the attention of the Principal, they were reprimanded by both the Principal and teacher concerned.Now does this auger well for any of the parties concerned?Many children can relate to several instances where teachers answering cellphones while in the classroom has happened(just keep a survey).I strongly believe that this law should be enforced for teachers also and don’t forget the tutors who supervise teachers on teaching practice,they are culprits too.Yes, you are an adult but does that give you the right to interrupt the class of someone you a supervising.Wouldn’t you reprimand or give the teacher a fail if they answered their phone while you are supervising them?You are distracting both the teacher and the students concerned. I am a teacher. whenever I enter the staff on mornings My phone is tuned in to silent.I know of several teachers who do the same.(It was a silent policy adopted by all teachers at my school.The Principal did not have to request it of us).If there are any missed calls I take them at break time or lunch time in the staff room.Like everybody else my cell phone is an important resource to me, but I don’t use it to deprive anyone of valuable time.The people calling know your working hours.If it’s an emergency they should have the phone number for your workplace.It’s time we act as role models and not allow persons to diss us at every opportunity they get.

  24. mouth of the south
    September 20, 2010

    while mayor michael bloomberg of n.y.c is encouraging the use of iphones n ipads in schools,,,, in d.a we tryna ban old chinese cell phone lol,,,,,, the use of technology in the classroom can enhance our learning,,,,,so yes educate them about the uses of it,,, but how is that possible when it is banned,,,, is there gonna be a subject on how to use a blackberry or a nokia fridge phone lol,,,,well indeed all students would get A+,,,,, o.k i understand,,, we doh want our children especially dem lil girls dat playing big woman to be sexting during school but oh no they should not be doin it at all,,, any way the best solution is buy dem a blackberry yah,,,,, n install a spyware on it,,,,google for spywares it have plenty,,,,, u can see all texts,,,,recieved or made calls to a particular phone,,,,, but i guess d.a behind or is it,,,,,, maybe dat is how ur significant half caught u cheating,,,,,,,,yes i dem blackberrys n iphones r a trap,,,,apple n blackberry working with law enforcement,,,, so dont buy ur child the cheap lil phones by dem a blackberry keep em happy n u on top of situations at all times………

  25. SMALLEE
    September 20, 2010

    Great Decision…. There is a time and place for everything they still have 16 hours to talk on their phone. once again great decision…

  26. Anonymous
    September 20, 2010

    @ANONYMOUS: They didn’t not say “no cell phones.” Students may not use the cell phone during school.

  27. Jayson
    September 20, 2010

    Students texting answers black is white to each other pretending they’re using their cellphone as a calculator!

  28. Good Going
    September 20, 2010

    Very good decision. There’s a time and a place.

  29. Leah
    September 20, 2010

    There cannot be anything wrong with taking such a decision.

    Students should not be allowed cellphones in school. It is ridiculous now, texting lovers during school hours…why is that necessary?

    And why should teachers’ use of cellphone be compared to students’ use. We should give teachers credit for being responsible enough to use their cellphones at appropriate times. We need to stop making excuses for students. Students need to act as students. They do not need the cellphones. In emergency, there are always office phones.

  30. ANONYMOUS
    September 20, 2010

    No cell phones .. that’s a bit harsh. What one can say is that all cell phones must be turned off. When the students leave the school compound then he/she can turn the phones on. Also teachers should not use cell phones during class sessions either

  31. King ghetto
    September 20, 2010

    Teachers making love on cellphone all day,what do you expect from students.hope the laws will apply to teachers also.students always the blacksheep when system fail.

  32. salop
    September 20, 2010

    The world is changing and we cannot remain the same.Got to have rules when it comes to use of cellphone on school grounds but some of the schools teachers take on their own by expelling students for days and denying them from graduating for use of cellphone even for emergency does not fit well.

  33. September 20, 2010

    it doh makin any sense…thats a ting all u cannot stop…besides even if they say dat ppl goin to come school wit there phones

  34. too dam fass
    September 20, 2010

    very good decision indeed! thumbs up

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