To:   Bureau Directors
Regional Directors
Schools Superintendents
Public/Private Elementary and Secondary School Heads

1.   Reports have reached this Office that some students have been using their cellular phones inside the classrooms. The use of cellular phones specifically text messaging and pagers have diverted the attention of students from their studies. Worse, reports show that text messaging and pagers are causing disturbance to classes and are being used to cheat during examinations.

2.   In view of this, the use of cellular phones and pagers should be prohibited inside the classrooms particularly during examinations to prevent these high-tech gadgets from disrupting classes and being used in cheating.

3.   School officials are hereby directed to ensure that text messaging and paging during class hours and within school premises should be immediately stopped, at the very least closely monitored and regulated.

4.   Immediate and wide dissemination of and compliance of this order is hereby directed.