KOTA BHARU, MALAYSIA - Handphones are banned among students to prevent them from getting distracted.

However, recalcitrant students still have their ways to sneak in their handphones.

In a Chinese secondary school in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, a student has dug out four excercise books stacked together to hide a handset, while others have dug out holes at the back of the school notice board to hide their gadgets for use during the recess.

The above are just among some of the ways students in that school have been smuggling in their phones. Their secrets were disclosed because a certain student was jealous of the his classmate's handphone.

"Earlier some students hid their phones in the toilet, but the incident was later brought to the attention of the principal because of theft," a school teachers-parents association committee members said.

He said the school had banned its students from bringing in their phones out of good will, for some students got distracted with sending SMS messages or talking over the phone with friends from other classes, and therefore could not concentrate in their studies.

"If they have been properly harnessing their funny ideas on learning or artistic creations, their future should be exceptionally bright. Nevertheless, they have abused their creativity."

Entertainment first

It remains controversial whether students should be allowed to bring their phones to school.

While the school worries that the students will get distracted, the parents have wanted their children to bring along their phones for "security" reasons as they can be tracked down wherever they are.

But to the students, handphones are more an entertainment tool than anything else. Other than contacting friends and family, they also use the phones to listen to songs, send SMS messages, play games, snap photos and share movies.

Some of the students interviewed by Guang Ming Daily admitted they did not bring their phones to school just to seek assistance in case of emergency. Instead, their phones have been used primarily for entertainment purposes. Some even admitted they brought their handphones mainly to show off to their classmates.

Students generally accept the ban

On the school banning students from bringing handphones, the students said they were aware why the school had done so, showing that most students still understand the kind intention behind the school's decision. They also said they could accept the reasons.

However, some students admitted there was no need of using a handphone at school, but they still hoped the school would lift the ban so that they could contact their parents in case they had to stay back owing to extracurricular activities.

They said they were even willing to strike an agreement with the school, that is, the school would allow them to bring in the phones but the students agree to turn off their phones during class and turn them on again only after school.

Although most schools have imposed such a ban, enforcement has not been strict in some of the schools.

Even if their phones are confiscated, the students still can get their phones back later. As such, many still try to sneak in their handphones.

Teachers allowed to use handphone during class

While most government and independent secondary schools do not allow their students to bring in handphones, some independent Chinese secondary schools have allowed students needing to use handphones after school to apply for permission, in which case, the phones will be kept by the teachers until after school.

Some government school teachers, meanwhile, allow their students to put their phones in "silent" mode during class.

A major difference between independent and government schools is that while independent secondary schools do not allow their students to bring in handphones, they also disallow their teachers to use handphones during class.

Government schools, meanwhile, not only allow their teachers to bring handphones, but also use their phones to call other teachers during class.

Some independent secondary school teachers interviewed by us said the schools shouldn't just provide education, but also set good examples for their students, and therefore anything that the students are not allowed to do should also be refrained by the teachers themselves.

However, some government school teachers claimed that they only receive specific incoming calls during school, such as those from the school authorities, education department and other calls related to their job.

Besides, they said they would often explain to the students after picking up the calls.

Parents: children above certain age should be allowed to use handphones

Many parents allow their children to use handphones after they have reached a certain age, mainly to keep in touch with them and track their whereabouts.

Parents interviewed by us said young adults above the age of 17 should be allowed to use the handphones, as teenagers tend to be rebellious and begin to grow independent mentally. Many parents have allowed their children to use handphones for safety concerns.

On the one hand this will show their recognition of their children's independence and the trust they have towards them, on the other hand their whereabouts could also be tracked, besides using this as an opportunity to train them to be responsible for what they are doing.

The parents agree that the children should not be given very expensive phones, as this would distract them from their schoolwork while rendering themselves potential targets of robbers.

The parents also agree that there is no need for their children to use handphones in class. However, if their children need to stay back for extracurricular activities, they still hope that they could be contacted.

Ways to sneak in a handphone to school

1. By digging out a book
2. By digging a hole behind the notice board
3. By hiding inside the cistern of a flush toilet
4. By making secret pockets in the schoolbag

By FU MEIPING, HE XINYU/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Guang Ming Daily)