Khaberni - Bolivia started implementing a ban on the use of mobile phones inside classrooms on Monday, coinciding with the beginning of the school year in the South American country.
Children and teachers will be required to keep their mobile phones in lockers or bags while in the classrooms.
This measure applies to both public and private schools and all grade levels.
Several countries have already implemented a ban on mobile phones in schools in an attempt to increase children's focus and reduce distractions, including Brazil, France, and South Korea.
This measure was drafted under the administration of Rodrigo Paz, the centrist governor who won last year’s election and took office in November, after two decades of governance by the left-wing "Movement towards Socialism" party.
On Monday, Paz stated that he is not opposed to technology, adding that he aims to improve internet connectivity for Bolivian students by using satellites to connect schools in rural areas to the internet.
He added during an event in the town of Copacabana on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world: "I will not provide you wifi to watch movies; I will provide connectivity so that students can download knowledge."
