Team Herald
MARGAO: Setting an example for students across the country, several Class X students of the Ravindra Kelekar Gyanmandir School, Margao, have relinquished custody of their mobile phones to the school management, in a bid to fight addiction to social media and do away with distractions from their studies during their board exams.
The school management told O Herald that 15 students who are answering their Board exams from April 1, have handed over their personal mobile phones to the school. They will take their phones back only after the end of the exams; on April 17. Parents of all the other students of Class X who have not followed suit, have assured the school management that they will restrict their children’s use of their mobile phones at the time of the exams.
The said school is run by the Konkani Bhasha Mandal and is known for taking several initiatives for the betterment of the student community and Konkani language in general. Speaking to O Herald, Principal of the school Anant Agni said that there is a prevailing fear that the students are neglecting their studies due to their addiction to mobile phones. He said that the school management had recently called a meeting of the students studying in Classes IX and X pertaining to the final exams, and parents and teachers were also invited for the meeting. Prashant Naik, President of the school management and Anwesha Singbal, Manager of the school, explained the proposal to the students and parents. “During the meeting, being the principal of the school, I urged the students and their parents to consider handing over their mobiles to the school management if possible, so that their exam preparation is not affected,” he added.
Interestingly, out of 43 students studying in Class X, 15 students agreed and handed over their personal cell phones to the school.
“The school will return their mobile phones after the end of the exams, with a special gift to thank them,” said Deepshree Desai, a teacher.
