Greece's education ministry has banned mobile phones in schools in response to a flurry of cases where pupils used their cells to film sexual activity and violent behaviour. "Pupils are not allowed to have mobile phones in their possession inside school grounds," the ministry said in a circular disseminated to primary and secondary schools.
"In exceptional cases where a pupil has a mobile phone, (he or she) is obliged to keep it turned off" on pain of sanctions, the circular said.
In the past weeks, educators and psychologists have argued that the videotaping of unruly behaviour encourages further disorder, with pupils in some cases competing to create increasingly shocking footage.
The new rules, which the ministry said are aimed to ensure "the smooth operation of schools," also make it a disciplinary offence for teachers to keep their cellphones switched on during class.
The move comes a month after an alleged rape case inside a Greek school which was reportedly captured by onlooking pupils on cellphone video.
The case caused outrage in Greece, and a subsequent televised broadcast of more cellphone videos of pupils having sex and participating in beatings caused further shock.
Greece's broadcasting watchdog fined the private television channel that hosted the late-night show.
