DepEd chief backs bill to ban students' use of cell phones in schools

MANILA, Philippines – A House bill seeking a total ban on cellular phones in schools has the support of Education Secretary Jesli Lapus. In an interview on Monday, Lapus lauded the bill's author, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, pointing out that the ban would prevent students from doing all sorts of mischief with their phones, like cheating during examinations or making prank calls, such as bomb threats, to get classes dismissed early. "We favor (the total ban of cellular phones in schools)," Lapus added. "It distracts students especially as they are inclined to play games using cell phones." Some private schools already ban students from taking their phones to school, Lapus said. Rodriguez noted that police has expressed alarm over the upsurge in crime incidents with the rise in popularity of cell phones, particularly among students. - GMANews.TV