The Junta de Andalucía has decided to forbid the use of mobile phones in school classrooms, corridors and dining & recreation areas within the region of Andalucía.

This restriction would not affect older pupils from ESO 3 (13 to 14) upwards, where it will be only recommended that they don’t use their phones in schools.

The Andalusian School Board proposed restricting all use of a mobile (phone calls, text conversations, videos, etc) and the restriction would be in force during the whole of the school day.

Schools across Andalucia have expressed their satisfaction with the move. They feel that it will avoid social-media bullying at school and that this decision had to be taken.

The Chairman of the Asociación Sindical Docente Asadián, José Madero (teacher’s union association) said, “Forbidding the use of mobiles was necessary, above all in the lower, age-group classes [ESO1/ESO2] where pupils misused their mobile phones, for example insulting others on social media.”

He said, however, that the Junta’s decision comes late as schools have been acting individually where mobiles are concerned starting in the 2011/2012 school year.

The Junta’s decision means that a smartphone can only be used in class, but with the expressed permission of the teacher, for teaching purposes, from ESO3 upwards.

(News/Noticias: Andalucia)