Plan to restrict cell phone use at schools suspended

The Seoul Metropolitan Council has suspended a plan to make an ordinance restricting students` use of mobile phones at primary and secondary schools due to negative public opinion.

The council had sought to establish the ordinance by the end of the year to keep students from recklessly using phones during class.

Those opposing the ordinance have maintained that it could infringe on students` rights, and that students who come home late at night need cellular phones to contact their parents in case of an emergency.



The Seoul council has recently conducted two surveys to gauge public opinion. In a July survey, most respondents concurred that the use of mobile phones would have a negative impact on students` studies at schools, but more than half were nonetheless in favor of students carrying their cellular phones.

More than 55 percent said that the use of mobile phones should be autonomously regulated by each school, whereas about 32 percent said that it should be regulated by law or ordinance. Also in a survey conducted last month, 55 percent of respondents said that the issue of students using mobile phones should be dealt with by each individual school.

"We have found (through the surveys) that although citizens think that it is not good for students to carry and use cell phones at schools, they think negatively about legally regulating the use of phones. We have put the plan on hold for six months," said Lee Jong-eun, a city councilor.

As local elections are slated for next June, it may be difficult for the council to refocus on this issue in six months` time, observers said.

Educational authorities in Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province had also sought to make the ordinances, but their legislative bodies have suspended the moves, citing the need to solicit more public opinions.

(sshluck@heraldm.com)





By Song Sang-ho