Teachers in China will be punished for using mobile phones and other facilities to make private calls when they are on duty in the classroom.
The punishment was introduced by the Chinese University of Science and Technology in the eastern Anhui Province in a regulation regarding teaching misdemeanors and penalties.
The regulation prescribes penalties for 16 misdemeanors, including suspension and changing of courses without permission, absence and lateness in the classroom.
Those violating the regulation can be criticized with their names publicized on campus, receive pay cuts, be assigned other jobs, and even fired.
The university has established a complete supervision system to further improve its teaching standards, receiving a favorable response from the public, especially from the families of students.
(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2003)