Teachers should be allowed to use their mobile phones in class if it is for the students’ benefit, said an educationist.
Tan Sri Prof Dr T. Marimuthu said Malaysia’s Ministry of Education should conduct a study on its usage in classrooms before banning it.
“If teachers are using it to conduct lessons and it’s beneficial for students, then the ban would result in the loss of an innovative tool,” he said.
On Tuesday, the ministry said teachers were prohibited from bringing or using their mobile phones in class.
According to an online news portal, Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan was quoted as saying that strict rules on mobile phone usage were already in place.
A teacher in Kuala Lumpur welcomed the ban, saying computers in the ICT rooms could be used instead of mobile phones.
A fellow teacher from Perak claimed many of her colleagues abused the privilege.
“So, usage should only be allowed in emergency situations,” she said, adding that she uses her laptop to assist in teaching.
Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education (Magpie) chairman Mak Chee Kin questioned why the rule was not enforced.
“Doesn’t the ministry know that the majority of teachers are using handphones in class?” Mak told The Star. “But most use them for the right reasons such as the enhancement of teaching and learning, access to the internet and to carry out official duties. So, the ban may be a step backwards.”
He said Magpie would only support the ban if all teachers were given access to other resources and facilities.
National Union of the Teaching Profession secretary-general Harry Tan said mobile phones were an important teaching aid.
He said some 10,000 primary and secondary schools nationwide would be given 4G Internet access for virtual learning.
These, he said, allowed teachers to share and use quality teaching and learning resources.
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