Teachers want camera phone ban for schools

Secondary school teachers have demanded a ban on picture message mobile phones in schools.

The TUI is calling on the Department of Education to issue a directive preventing their use during school hours.

The union has said the phones may be used to compromise the personal integrity of students or teachers or for bullying and intimidation and could transmit pornography.

Another concern is that they may be used to transmit information during exams.

TUI President Paddy Healy has said parents want the phones banned in schools.

“These picture phones can be used by dysfunctional pupils to interfere with the integrity of teachers to disrupt classes to create distractions for other students and so on.”

“One of the issues that is arising is the support from parents for the confiscation of such phones.”