Lawmaker Proposes Motion to Prohibit Cell Phone Usage in Oyo Secondary Schools

A member of the Oyo State House of Assembly representing Akinyele 1 State Constituency, Olalekan Abiola, has introduced a motion seeking to ban students in secondary schools from using mobile phones during school periods.

Mr. Abiola raised the concern while presenting a motion entitled “Need to ban the use of mobile phones in secondary schools in the state to improve student discipline and better academic performance.”

He noted that although mobile phones are valuable tools for communication, their abuse by students at the secondary school level has led to concerning behaviour, greater instances of skipping school, and a weakening of the reading habit.

“The use of mobile phones in secondary schools has become a growing concern, as it contributes to distraction during learning hours, reduces students’ focus on academics, and promotes indiscipline.”

“The students have gone as far as smuggling mobile phones into examination halls to cheat, undermining the credibility of academic assessments.”

“The unrestricted access to mobile phones has also contributed to rising cases of cyberbullying, sex-texting, and exposure to inappropriate materials, which negatively influence students’ behaviour,” he said.

The lawmaker stressed the importance of schools creating official lines of communication through which parents can reach their children during emergencies without interfering with educational activities.

As a result, the Assembly instructed its standing Committee on Education, covering both basic and secondary levels, to consult with all key parties.

These parties include the Ministry of Education, the Agency for Mobilisation, and the Ministry of Information, among others, to initiate discussions and develop plans for limiting mobile phone use in secondary schools throughout the state.