In a bid to enhance student discipline and academic performance, a lawmaker in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Monsuru Lekan Abiola, representing Akinyele 1, has called for a comprehensive ban on the use of personal mobile phones in secondary schools across the state.
He made the submission during a session of the assembly, highlighting the detrimental effects of mobile phone usage on students’ focus and behaviour.
“The use of mobile phones in secondary schools has become a growing concern. It contributes to distractions during learning hours, reduces students’ focus on academics, and promotes indiscipline,” Hon. Abiola stated.
He underscored that studies have shown unrestricted access leads to “social media addiction, cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, and even examination malpractice.”
Abiola noted that teachers and school administrators have voiced concerns over students using mobile phones for non-educational activities during school hours.
“Many institutions now encourage structured technology use by restricting access to only approved educational devices,” he said.
According to him, the proposed ban aims to combat rising issues such as truancy, peer influence, and a decline in reading culture.
“Students have gone as far as smuggling mobile phones into examination halls to cheat, undermining the credibility of academic assessments.”
He warned that the misuse of mobile phones has led to “increased cases of cyberbullying, sexting, and exposure to inappropriate materials.”
To address these concerns, he resolved to urge the Executive Arm of Government, particularly the Ministry of Education, to “enforce a ban on the use of personal mobile phones by students in all public and private secondary schools across Oyo State during school hours.”
Furthermore, Abiola proposed that schools establish official communication channels to allow parents to contact their children during emergencies without disrupting learning.
“While some students may need mobile phones for valid reasons, clear guidelines must be established to regulate their use. This would ensure that exceptions are only granted under special circumstances approved by school authorities, maintaining the primary goal of fostering academic discipline,” he said.
The committee on education is also encouraged to collaborate with school administrators and the Parent Teacher Association to develop additional policies promoting responsible technology use among students.
“A ban on mobile phone use during school hours will reinforce discipline, promote face-to-face social interactions, and ensure that students focus on their primary responsibility, which is learning,” Hon. Abiola concluded.
