Editor,
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to express my concern regarding the strict ban on mobile phones in many schools, including those in Shillong. In the year 2025, such a policy seems regressive and unfair, especially considering the growing importance of connectivity and safety in a student’s life.
Many students travel long distances to attend school. For them, carrying a mobile phone is not a luxury but a necessity—crucial for location sharing, contacting parents, or dealing with emergencies. Denying them the right to carry a mobile phone after school hours can pose genuine safety risks.
Recently, the Delhi High Court passed a judgment emphasizing that schools should not entirely ban students from carrying mobile phones. Instead, it advised that schools create secure facilities to store phones during class hours and incorporate education on the responsible use of technology. Such a balanced approach respects both discipline and the realities of today’s world.
It is time for educational institutions in Shillong and elsewhere to take note of this progressive judgment. Schools can and should enforce rules on phone usage during school hours, including fines or disciplinary action for misuse. However, an outright ban on carrying mobile phones is not the solution. It ignores the evolving needs of students and fails to reflect the digital age we live in.
In conclusion, school policies must align with the times—focusing on student growth, safety, and responsibility rather than outdated notions of discipline. Denying students access to basic tools of communication after school hours could potentially endanger them and limit their development in a technology-driven world.
Roney Lyndem
Counsellor
