AFGHANISTAN: A ban on smartphones in schools issued by Taliban authorities in southern Afghanistan came into force, students and teachers confirmed to AFP on Wednesday, over concerns of 鈥渇ocus鈥� and 鈥淚slamic law.鈥�
The directive by the provincial Education Department in Kandahar applies to students, teachers and administrative staff in schools and religious schools.
鈥淭his decision has been made to ensure educational discipline, focus,鈥� the statement said, adding that it was taken from a 鈥渟haria perspective鈥� and that smartphones contribute to 鈥渢he destruction of the future generation.鈥�
The policy, which has already taken effect in schools across the province, has divided opinion among teachers and students.
鈥淲e did not bring smart phones with us to school today,鈥� Saeed Ahmad, a 22-year-old teacher, told AFP.
鈥淚 think this is a good decision so that there is more focus on studies,鈥� he added.
Mohammad Anwar, an 11th grader, said 鈥渢he teachers are saying if anyone is seen bringing a phone, they will start searching the students.鈥�
Another 12th-grade student, refusing to give his name, said the ban would hinder learning in a country where girls are barred from secondary school and university as part of restrictions the UN has dubbed 鈥済ender apartheid.鈥�
鈥淲hen the teacher writes a lesson on the board, I often take a picture so I could write it down later. Now I can鈥檛. This decision will negatively affect our studies.鈥�

The ban has also taken root in religious schools known as madrassas.
鈥淣ow there鈥檚 a complete ban. No one brings smartphones anymore,鈥� Mohammad, 19 years old madrassa student said.
A number of countries have in recent years moved to restrict mobile phones from classrooms such as France, Denmark and Brazil.
The Taliban authorities have already introduced a ban on images of living beings in media, with multiple provinces announcing restrictions and some Taliban officials refusing to be photographed or filmed.
The Taliban鈥檚 Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada called last week on officials and scholars to reduce their use of smartphones.
鈥淭his is the order of the leaders, and we must accept it,鈥� a 28-year-old security forces member told AFP without giving his name as he was not authorized to speak to the media.
鈥淚 have now found a brick phone ... I used WhatsApp on my smartphone sometimes, but now I don鈥檛 use it anymore,鈥� he added.
Some Taliban officials in Kandahar have started sharing their numbers for brick phones and switching off online messaging apps.