Raipur: The Chhattisgarh government has banned teachers and students from using mobile phones in government and private schools, official sources said on Tuesday.

"The government has issued an order to ban the use of mobile phones by teachers and students in schools," sources in the school education department said. The education department has asked officials in all the 18 districts to ensure the strict implementation of the order.

The use of mobile phones in schools would be permitted only in rare circumstances after permission from the school head, the sources, who spoke only on condition of anonymity since they were not authorized to speak to the media, said.

The order was issued in the wake of a flurry of complaints by both parents and students in recent months regarding the growing use of mobile phones in classrooms. Parents and students have alleged that the phones disrupt the educational atmosphere. IANS