CATEGORY:SPECIAL REPORT
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By Wallace J.A.
Inside Grenada correspondent
Sunday November 26,2006


ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE appearing in Trinidadexperss.com, the use of cell phones in schools on the island of Tobago has been banned. This decision was made after a meeting involving educators on the island on Friday. Students will only be allowed to carry their phones to school with the expressed permission of the principal of the learning institution.

The decision to prohibit the use of cell phones in schools has apparently been made as a consequence of the activities of a ‘porn ring’ comprising of students. These students are alleged to have used their cell phones to produce pornographic videos and then distribute them to friends and businesses using the same medium. The article also alleges that some of the videos that were in circulation were actually filmed in classrooms. Policemen on the island of Tobago are believed to be carrying out an investigation into this ‘porn ring fiasco.’

While there have been no reported cases of such incidents in Grenadian schools to date, the possibility of something of that nature happening is not very far-fetched.

Many students on the island attend school with expensive video phones, which cost hundreds of dollars. Many of them also have internet access on their phones and can use it to access, produce or store pornography. In some cases, people have openly queried the priorities of some parents/ guardians since some of these same students attend school without basic textbooks, notebooks and other learning paraphernalia.

Grenadianconnection will like to make an appeal to parents/guardians, educators and policymakers in the country to exercise due vigilance in light of the alleged events in Tobago. Old people have a saying, “Wet your house when your neighbor own is on fire.” It will do us well to take heed. With modern technology, our children are exposed, now more than ever, to many vices that can significantly undermine our cherished values, morals and our way of life. Let us not fall asleep at the wheel!