The lawmaker representing Akinyele 1 State Constituency in Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Olalekan Abiola has appealed to the State Government 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.
Hon. Abiola made the appeal today while moving a motion titled “Need to ban the use of Mobile phones in Secondary Schools in the State to improve Student Discipline and better academic performance” during the plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin
He revealed that while mobile phones serve as important communication tools, their misuse among secondary school students has led to negative behavioural patterns, including increased cases of truancy, peer influence in harmful activities and a decline in reading culture.
“The use of mobile phones in secondary schools has become a growing concern, as it contributes to distraction during learning hours, reduces students ‘focus on academics, and promotes indiscipline.”
“The students have gone as far as smuggling mobile phones into examination halls to cheat, undermining the credibility of academic assessments. The unrestricted access to mobile phones has also contributed to rising cases of cyberbullying, sex – texting, and exposure to inappropriate materials, which negatively influence students’ behaviour. ” The motion stated.
He however suggested the need for school authorities to establish official communication channels that allow parents to reach their wards in emergencies without disrupting learning activities.
The House has however directed it standing committee on Education ( Basic and Secondary) to engage all relevant stakeholders including Ministry of Education, Agency for Mobilisation, Ministry of Information and others for dialogue and workout the modalities to adopt in curbing the use of phones in both private and public secondary schools across the State.