By DHARMENDER SINGH

PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA: Handphones confiscated from pupils in schools will only be returned to the parents, says Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong.

'It is with immediate effect. Parents must come to schools to collect the phones,' he said.

'Having handphones in classrooms are disruptive because pupils are found to be more intent on sending SMS rather than paying attention to the lessons,' he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the Committee on Controlling Disciplinary Problems in Schools yesterday.

He added that handphones in schools also raised other concerns since many phones were capable of many more functions than just sending text messages.

'The presence of phones has led to several issues, including fights between pupils when phones go missing and owners accusing classmates of theft.'

Wee said handphones had been barred from schools since 2006, but the directive was never fully enforced after parents started questioning what right did teachers had to confiscate the phones.

At the meeting yesterday, Dr Wee said teachers and representatives from Parent and Teachers Associa-tions agreed the ministry needed to make a firm stand.

'I urge parents not to allow their children to carry mobile phones to schools. In cases of emergency, the school office phone is always available,' he said.

On another matter, Dr Wee said the committee also decided not to scrap caning in schools, as it was a factor leading to the decline in disciplinary problem from 2.13% in 2006; to 2.1% (2007) and 2.08% (2008).

But, the ministry had issued a new directive that schools must inform the parents before the caning was meted out.

Dr Wee said headmasters must also thoroughly investigate allegations of misconduct by students before deciding on the caning.

'I also want to assure parents there have been no cases of teachers victimising the students by caning,' he said.

'We will take serious action against any teacher found to have done so,' he added.

Dr Wee said the ministry would also invite police to regularly send their liaision officers to schools.

Likewise, he said the school administration should provide the police with information of the happenings in schools.