Mobile Phones on Wrong Side of Law

A month after legislation outlawing mobile phones in schools and universities came into force in Tajikistan, the ban is looking increasingly like using a hammer to crack a nut.

Mobile Phones on Wrong Side of Law

A month after legislation outlawing mobile phones in schools and universities came into force in Tajikistan, the ban is looking increasingly like using a hammer to crack a nut.

IWPR

Institute for War & Peace Reporting
Saturday, 9 May, 2009
According to reporter Lisan Fahruddinova, the law was devised because it was felt the constant sound of ringtones was disrupting education.



There are warning posters up everywhere, but everyone seems to be happily ignoring them.



Although just carrying a cellphone, let alone using one, in a place of learning is now technically an offence, no one knows who is supposed to impose the penalties, or who the fines should be paid to.



Teaching staff are somewhat unhappy – they might be glad not to have to listen to their students’ phones going off in class, but they themselves are not supposed to have a mobile, even if it sits quietly in their pocket.
Tajikistan
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