Human Rights Commission: "Complete Ban on Students' Use of Mobile Phones on School Premises is a Human Rights Violation"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The National Human Rights Commission has ruled that a high school's regulation completely banning students from using mobile phones on campus constitutes a violation of human rights.

On the 3rd, the Human Rights Commission recommended that the principal of High School A stop the complete restriction on students' mobile phone use during school hours and revise the school regulations to relax them within a scope that does not excessively limit freedom of communication.

The complainant, a high school student, filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission, stating that High School A required students to turn off and carry their mobile phones during school hours and completely banned phone use even during breaks and lunch, thereby infringing on their freedom of communication.

In response, High School A argued that the measure was a desperate effort to reduce indiscriminate mobile phone use and promote a study-friendly atmosphere, stating that they have established regulations banning mobile phone use on campus. They also claimed to have a system in place allowing free internet searches in the multimedia room when necessary and enabling quick communication between home and students through homeroom teachers in emergencies.

The Human Rights Commission did not accept High School A's argument. It judged that completely banning mobile phone use and imposing penalty points for violations excessively restricts students' rights, especially when other methods could achieve educational goals while minimizing infringement on students' basic rights, such as restricting use during class but allowing it during breaks and lunch.

Furthermore, considering that students' privacy could be exposed when informing teachers of the need to make calls, the Commission viewed this operational method as insufficient to compensate for the rights restrictions caused by the complete ban on mobile phones.

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