The Ministry of Education (MoE) has banned students from using mobile phones in schools, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Tuesday. The ministry directed school administration to follow up the daily updates of students health status on the “Tawakkalna Web”, while new students in the school or a recovering person must submit a printed copy of the health status on "Tawakkalna" system, or send a copy of it to the mobile phone of the school administration. “The school administration has the exception to allow bringing mobile phone out of necessity according to its evaluation, and this includes the case of students whose health conditions require the need to bring the mobile to the school, provided that it’s kept with the administration,” the ministry said. The ministry emphasized to all education staff, students, their parents and others to completely prevent filming in schools and educational facilities, as it is a violation. It called on everyone to abide by the instructions and controls issued by the Public Prosecution through its official website, in accordance with the rules, regulations and instructions. It’s noteworthy that the ministry has allowed the use of mobile phones in schools for students at the beginning of the academic year to show their health status through Tawakkalna app before entering the school. Earlier, The Public Prosecution has warned of stringent penalties for those who misuse mobile phones to harm privacy or inflict damage to dignity of others including a maximum one-year jail term and fines amounting to SR500,000. While reviewing the penalties for misusing smartphones in violation of the privacy of others, the Public Prosecution emphasized the prohibition of any practices or behaviors involving abuse of others. The practices violating the privacy of others at workplaces include photography, defaming or harming others, violating public morals, or publishing anything of that sort, using various means of information technologies. The Public Prosecution pointed out that any person who violates private life by misusing camera phones or the like, or defames and harms others, through various means of information technologies, shall be punished with imprisonment for a period of up to a year and a fine of up to half a million riyals.