Shillong: The Meghalaya Education Department, under its initiatives for inculcating 'traditional good habits' among the new generation, has issued a directive to the heads of all schools and colleges in the state to ensure that students are not allowed to use cell phones and consume intoxicants on premises.

Students may now have to leave behind their mobile phones at home and even use public transport to reach schools and colleges.

"We (the Education Department) decided to take this step after we felt that it was not correct to allow use of mobile phones inside classrooms. Use of cell phones not only disturbs teachers while delivering their lectures or giving lessons to students but also affects concentration of students," Higher and Technical Education Director W Khyllep said.

The education director also felt that use of mobile phones is an insult to a classroom which is considered as the temple of learning.

"The present generation students are found to be more undisciplined compared to students of the past. It is also found that they are brash and are not afraid of violating rules that prohibit them from smoking cigarettes and chewing betel-nuts on the premises of their institutions," he further added.