'Pupils can use smartphones'

Pupils are allowed to use smartphones that enable them to research for learning purposes only while ordinary mobile phones remain banned," Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Lazarus Dokora has said.

He made the remarks in the Senate yesterday while responding to a question from Zanu-PF representative for Mashonaland Central Damian Mumvuri, who wanted to know if the ministry consulted parents and school authorities on major policy changes particularly on the use of cellphones by pupils.

Minister Dokora said his ministry consulted all stakeholders as evidenced by their involvement in the crafting of the curriculum review.

"The ministry has not made comments on the use of cellphones because they are dysfunctional in a learning order," he said.

"There is policy in the use and embracing of technologies such as smartphones, laptops, iPads and tablets. Desktops are still welcome, but quite clearly, technologies are evolving as the honourable senators do know."