Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) is developing a new Student Handbook that will set clear rules governing the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices in schools.
Education Minister Dr. Habibatou Drammeh said the handbook, which is expected to be completed this month, will spell out what students are permitted to do and what is prohibited while on school premises.
Speaking on West Coast Radio’s Coffee Time, Dr. Drammeh said students will not be allowed to use mobile phones freely in classrooms. Instead, phones may only be used under the supervision of teachers and for specific educational purposes.
“We are working on a student handbook that will help learners understand the things that are accepted in school and those that are not,” she said.
Phones Only for Learning
The minister said the government supports the use of technology as part of teaching and learning but wants mobile phone use to remain controlled within schools.
“If you want to use a mobile phone in the classroom, it must be because the teacher requires it for a learning activity. Otherwise, we will not allow students to use mobile phones indiscriminately inside the classroom,” Dr. Drammeh said.
She said the policy is part of broader efforts to promote discipline and create a conducive learning environment while ensuring students can benefit from digital technology in a structured way.
Schools Can Regulate Use
Dr. Drammeh however acknowledged that The Gambia currently lacks the capacity to restrict children’s access to social media platforms outside school. However, she said the ministry has the authority to regulate mobile phone use within school compounds through clear rules and guidance.
“We can manage the usage of mobile phones within the school premises because we are also working to integrate technology into the school curriculum,” she said.
Once finalized, the handbook and its code of conduct will be made available to students and will set out clear expectations regarding behaviour, discipline, and the responsible use of technology.
The move comes as concerns grow in several countries over the impact of mobile phones on classroom concentration, online safety, and academic performance.
For the Gambian government, the new handbook is intended to strike a balance between regulating distractions and ensuring students have access to technology where it supports learning.
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