The Central Asian state of Tajikistan Tuesday banned cellphones from all schools and universities in a bid to boost education.

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 cellphones.

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)