Panaji, Jan 30 (IANS): Despite a ban on the use of mobile phones in schools, teachers are pushing students to download material on smartphones due to lucrative deals offered by telecom service providers, Goa Director of Education G.P. Bhat said on Monday, while also warning of surprise raids in schools to enforce the ban.

In a circular issued on Monday, Bhat also said that there was a need to cut down the use of mobile phones in schools in order to foster a healthy "teaching-learning atmosphere".

"Despite clear instructions, it is brought to the notice of the undersigned that not only are the students misusing the smartphones, the teachers also resort to instructing students to use the smartphones for downloading various material, taking advantage of lucrative offers from certain service providers," the circular issued by Bhat states.

"It is, therefore, reiterated that the use of cell phones be restricted to bare minimum so as to have a very healthy teaching-learning atmosphere in school premises," the circular adds while empowering deputy education officers to conduct surprise visits in schools to ensure that the ban on mobile phones is properly enforced.