The mobile (cell) telephone system exists to facilitate an efficient communication system within schools and with parents/guardians. ALL handsets are blocked from making overseas calls.
There are certain restrictions on the use of the handsets which apply to ALL staff.
1. The handset is for staff to communicate primarily with each other (closed user group) and when necessary with the parents/guardians of students. It is NOT to be used for personal calls except in extreme emergency.
2. The handset remains the property of the Ministry of Education and must be handed in when requested or when you leave the employ of the issuing school.
3. Staff must have work handsets switched on at all times, and have them accessible. All phones - work or personal must be on silent mode within the workplace. In between lessons and during break/lunch and after school please check your Voicemail regularly to follow up on any ‘missed’ calls.
4. In order to limit intrusions during teaching time the handset number should only be given to parents/guardians and other persons who would have need to contact you on school business and NOT to personal contacts.
5. School staff should endeavor only to contact other staff in between lessons, during break/lunch time and after school. Lessons should only be interrupted in the case of emergency. This restriction also applies to staff use of personal cell phones on Government premises.
6. Each handset number is monitored individually and a monthly record of all calls is automatically sent to central administration.
7. Employees must pay for all personal (non-work) calls billed to the mobile held in their name.
8. Loss or damage of a handset through negligence may result in the member of staff being asked to replace it.
9. Theft or loss of a handset should be reported immediately to the school and the Department of Education Services (DES), together with a written report surrounding the theft/loss.
10. Malfunctioning handsets should be reported immediately and handed in to DES so that a replacement can be issued.
11. Handsets should not be loaned to anyone – it is your personal responsibility to ensure that it is not being used improperly (other than use which occurs for example after it has been stolen/lost).
12. SIM cards must not be switched from the government issued phone to a personal phone.
13. Handsets (Government and personal) should NOT be left unattended on desks – they should be on your person at all times.
14. Costs associated with the replacement of a phone or any of its parts, may be borne by the user if it is determined that the phone was tampered with or used improperly.