Mobile phones banned from schools

A woman talks on a cell phone as she rides in a bus during snowfall in Belgrade in this file photo from February 18, 2009.

DUSHANBE (Reuters) - The Central Asian state of Tajikistan on Tuesday banned mobile phones from all schools and universities in a bid to boost education.

"This measure has been taken in order to improve the quality of teaching at schools," deputy Dodikhudo Saimutdinov said after a vote in parliament.

Offenders, including those who carry phones without using them, will be fined.

Although Tajikistan is considered Central Asia's poorest nation, 3.2 million out of 7 million Tajiks use mobiles.

President Imomali Rakhmon has earlier introduced uniforms at schools and universities and barred students from going to schools in their own cars.

(Reporting by Roman Kozhevnikov; Writing by Olzhas Auyezov)