Mobile phone usage policy

RULES FOR THE USE OF RESTRICTED DEVICES

According to Government Decree 245/2024. VIII.8., students must hand in their mobile phones, smartwatches, tablets, and other devices capable of recording images and sounds upon arrival at school, in a switched-off state. They can only retrieve them at the end of the school day. The school's regulations will specify the conditions under which these devices can be handed in and retrieved.

Handing in:
Upon arrival, students will hand in their switched-off mobile phones under the supervision and responsibility of the on-duty teacher by placing them in individually allocated, lockable school lockers placed at the reception area. The lockers are provided by the school maintainer. The locker has 33 compartments on each side, individually lockable with keys, and one compartment is assigned to each student. Any mobile phones found during the day without permission will be stored in a lockable drawer in the school office.

The morning duty period is from 7:30 to 7:45, during which one teacher, designated by school management, will perform the duty according to the duty schedule. Between 7:45 and 8:00, the management will handle this task according to a pre-arranged schedule. From 8:00, the hallway duty teacher will take over supervision.

Storage without damage:
The school does not take responsibility for damage to the phones (e.g., scratches or impacts), so students and parents are responsible for ensuring the protection of the devices. However, the school is responsible for the safekeeping of the devices. Teachers are not financially liable for them. The lockers remain locked, except during the handover and return times. During school hours, students keep the keys, but outside of school hours, they must leave the keys in the open locker door. A duplicate key will be kept in a lockable drawer in the school office.

Mobile phones can only be handed out during school hours with the permission of the school management for the following reasons:

• For educational purposes – the subject teacher may take the phones for a particular class and is responsible for their return at the end of the lesson.
• In case of emergency – with management approval (e.g., due to illness or when leaving the school for educational purposes).

Returning the devices:
Mobile phones will be returned after the last lesson of the class/group under the supervision of the teacher who had the last lesson with the class/group.

Special cases:
If physical education is the last class for the day for a particular class/group, they can retrieve their phones under the supervision of the on-duty teacher. If physical education is the first lesson, the affected classes/groups can proceed directly to the external location, and they must hand in their mobile phones only upon entering the school building.

Unauthorized use of mobile phones:
If a student brings or uses a mobile phone without permission, the teacher who notices this has the right to confiscate it. Students will receive their confiscated mobile phones at the end of the school day. In the case of students over 18, they will receive their phones directly at the end of the school day. For students under 18, their parents will need to collect the phone from the supervising teacher.

Unauthorized mobile phone use will result in the following disciplinary actions, adhering to the principle of gradual escalation:

• Written warning from the class teacher
• Written reprimand from the class teacher
• Written reprimand from the principal
• Notification to the school maintainer for initiating disciplinary action.

RULES REGARDING PROHIBITED ITEMS

The range of prohibited items in educational institutions is regulated by Government Decree 175/2003 (X. 28.).

According to the law, the following items are considered prohibited:
1.    Items that are particularly dangerous to public safety;
2.    Items that are punishable under Act II of 2012 on misdemeanors, the misdemeanor procedure, and the misdemeanor registry system;
3.    Items that are punishable under Act C of 2012 on the Penal Code;
4.    Products that cannot be sold to persons under the age of 18.

Teachers in the institution are authorized to inspect prohibited items, and students are required to hand over such items to them.

Storage of confiscated prohibited items:
In the case of items mentioned in points 1 and 3, the confiscated items will be placed by the teacher in a lockable cabinet located in the Secretariat.

Return of confiscated prohibited items:
For items mentioned in points 1 and 3 – provided that their possession is not prohibited by law – students who are 18 years or older will have their items returned at the end of the school day. For students under 18, the items will be returned to their parents by the supervising teacher.

If it is determined beyond doubt that the item belongs to a third party, it must be returned to that third party. Items whose possession is prohibited by law (items from point 1 and items covered under points 2 and 3) will be handed over to the appropriate authorities as specified by the law by the school principal.

Budapest, 30.08.2024