Regarding the MOE’s plan to relax the student disciplinary regulations, allowing them to bring ICT products including mobile phone and tablet computer to school, Gerakan Youth Secretary General Dr. Dominic Lau says that Gerakan Youth is agreed in principle on the proposed regulation in order to meet the needs of the times and in consideration of the student’s safety.

School authorities and teachers are always worrying that by allowing the students to bring computer and mobile phone to school will affect the lesson in class. Based on this, Dr. Dominic Lau says that at the same time it is important for MOE to set up an effective control measure to avoid the implementation of such a new regulation from disturbing the teaching and learning process in the classroom.

Dr. Dominic Lau holds that by allowing the students to bring a mobile phone to school will definitely create some problems, such as discipline problems, tendency to show off that will concurrently incur low self-esteem and jealousy among students. Furthermore, primary school students are incapable to take care of their own mobile phone and this will lead to problem such as a lost mobile phone that will happen frequently.

“Besides, the mobile phone is multifunction such as online, play games, photo taking and music listening and many more, it is inevitable that some naughty students will abuse it and subsequently causing them to fail to concentrate in class affecting their studies. Gerakan Youth is hereby suggesting that MOE could stipulate that the students can only use a kind of “simplistic mobile phone” available in the market that only provide simple and cheap calling service with only buttons to contact parents and home. Such a simplistic mobile phone will eliminate the concerns of the parents with a cheap price and it is a useful tool in case of any emergency,” says Dr. Dominic Lau.

In addition, Dr. Dominic Lau also adds that if the MOE needs further details, Gerakan Youth is willing to submit a detailed proposal and make coordination.