Chinese school uses metal detectors to bar mobile phones

BEIJING - A school in China has started using metal detectors to prevent students from bringing in mobile phones.

Langfang No 1 Middle School in Hebei province purchased metal detectors that are similar to the ones at airports to regulate mobile phone usage.

This was done to prevent students from viewing pornographic videos and playing cyber games on cell phonesin school, China Daily reported Tuesday quoting Yanzhao Metropolitan News.

If a mobile phone is detected, the student has to leave it with the teachers until school hours get over.

The school with 3,000 students has long been concerned about the negative effects of cell phones.

“Teen-agers are prone to be poorly self-disciplined and easily fall into temptation,” He Shaoqing, director of moral education office at the school, was quoted as saying.

He added that teenagers are likely to be distracted by comparing their gadgets with one another if they possess mobile phones during school hours.

The school has installed 160 magnetic card phones in its teaching buildings, canteens and dormitories for students to use during school hours.

The mobile phone ban also applies to teachers, who are not allowed to take cell phones into classroom.