Following a circular issued by the Ministry of Education authorizing and regulating social media use in government schools, several Colombo-based schools have implemented various measures, including a ban on smartphones. This move also comes in response to requests from parents concerned about excessive internet and social media use among students.
It has been reported that while smartphones are prohibited, non-smartphone mobile devices are still permitted.
Mahanama Vidyalaya Principal, Prabath Withanage, told Daily Morning on the 13th, “Currently, students are not allowed to bring any phones to school. However, we have offered alternatives for children who need to contact their parents.” To address parental concerns, Withanage explained that the school is considering a system where students may bring basic, non-smartphone devices, which would be securely kept in the guardhouse for emergency use.
Additionally, Withanage mentioned plans to install payphones on campus, providing students a way to contact parents without accessing the internet or social media. This initiative follows parental requests for measures to discourage online overuse among children. “Many parents tell us their children spend excessive time online,” Withanage said. “Even when we share school announcements through WhatsApp, parents often hand the phone to their children, which can lead to extended phone use.” To address this, he noted the school is exploring ways to share updates via blogs, reducing children’s exposure to social media.
Echoing these efforts, Piyasiri Fernando, Principal of Nattandiya Lourdes College and President of the Lanka Principals’ Union (LPU), confirmed that students are similarly banned from bringing smartphones to school. Fernando stressed that many parents find it difficult to monitor their children’s social media usage, leading to addiction, distraction from academics, and potential exposure to inappropriate content. He urged teachers, principals, and parents to actively oversee students’ phone and social media use, as frequent usage is linked to a lack of focus on studies and extracurricular activities.
