<i> Govt to ban mobile use by teachers at classroom</i>

The government is going to stop teachers from using cellphones in classrooms and examination halls, said Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday.
"The education ministry will issue a gazette notification in a day or two...," he said.
The minister made the announcement at the Child Parliament Session 2011 titled "Education and Good Governance" organised by Child Parliament in association with Save the Children Australia, Manusher Jonno Foundation and Plan Bangladesh at the LGED Auditorium in the capital.
Child Parliament is an organisation where children discuss their rights and demands at national level and place their suggestions before the authorities concerned.
Some 84 child representatives, including 64 child parliamentarians from every districts in the country, posing as members of government and non-government organisations participated in the programme. The parliamentarians talked elaborately about the teaching process at schools, management, infrastructural problems and school environment.
Last year's survey report of the Child Parliament pointed out that around 74 percent teachers use mobile phones during class. In this year's report, the child parliamentarians found the number increased by one percent.
At yesterday's session, the child parliamentarians called upon the government to give constitutional recognition to education as a basic right. They said the school authorities charge extra fees ahead of examinations.
Sriti, a child parliamentarian from Joypurhat, said teachers' involvement in government and their own activities hamper educational activities in schools.
Pavel, from Madaripur, alleged that teachers very often threaten candidates of government exams that they would not give them marks for practical tests unless they have the teacher as their private tutor.
The children stressed the need for stronger government monitoring of schools and their activities. They also sought proper gaming equipment and asked to ensure participation of all handicapped children in classes.
The education minister said stern action would be taken against schools that charge extra for any kind of exams.
On making education a basic right, he said he would inform the special committee on constitutional amendment in parliament of the matter.
Nahid also urged the media not to run advertisements of notebooks.
Country Director of Save the Children Michael McGrath said the quality of education would drop if teachers do not give due concentration on teaching in classrooms.