By ELIAS LARI
PARENTS must not allow their children to carry mobile phones to schools.
Some teachers in Western Highlands province raise grave concern last Friday that mobile phones disturbed students in class and encouraged them to set date with married people to go out partying and getting involved in other unacceptable social activities.
Some even send pornographic materials using mobile phones.
A theological lecturer with Hermann Strauss Training Institute in the province Rev Stanley Mokati from the Melpa Lutheran church appealed to parents in the country to stop their children carrying mobile phones to schools.
Rev Mokati said mobile phones were not good for students as it encouraged them to do and learn bad things.
He said students even call their friends to pick them after school to some other places without letting their parents know.
Rev Mokati said it was not pleasing to see school children carrying phones around.
He said this had resulted in many school girls becoming pregnant and not completing their education.
He said school girls becoming pregnant were becoming very common in the province and other parts of the country.
Rev Mokati said it was because mobile phones bring two parties together to engage in extramarital activities and also put students at higher risk of catching the HIV/AIDS virus.
He said mobile phones also irritated teachers during classes and disturbed other students in class who are trying to learn.
Rev Mokati said mobiles were a big concern and parents needed to take serious measures about its use.