In Ho Chi Minh City, Thanh Loc High School and Truong Chinh High School (District 12) are implementing a regulation prohibiting students from using phones on school grounds, including during recess. Students are only allowed to use them with the teacher’s permission, but they are not prohibited from bringing phones to school.
Of which, Truong Chinh High School has implemented this regulation since the previous school year, while Thanh Loc High School has just applied the regulation from this school year.
The principals of the two schools said that after applying this regulation, there have been positive changes. The schoolyard has become more bustling and lively during recess. The situation of students "gathering in groups of three or five" to watch their phones has disappeared, and instead, there are more images of students participating in fun and playing sports.
Huynh Kim Ngan, a student in class 12A9, Thanh Loc High School, said she strongly agrees with the school's new regulations.
"I see that the students have changed significantly. They participate in more outdoor activities. There is no longer a situation where students sit in the hallway playing on their phones," Kim Ngan said.
Nguyen Hoang Minh, a 12th grader in A9, said that before the regulation, many students brought their phones to school mostly just to play games and surf the web, and rarely used them for studying.
"Some students even secretly use their phones during class. If teachers find out, they will only temporarily confiscate them and then return them. Since the new regulations were introduced, students have focused on talking and playing sports together more during recess," Hoang Minh shared.
Ms. Thu Thuy, a parent whose child is in 10th grade in District 1, expressed her agreement and support for the regulation prohibiting students from using cell phones at the two schools above.
According to Ms. Thuy, at her child's school, there is currently a rule prohibiting students from using phones during class, but not during recess.
"I think the phone is a necessary equipment, when my child leaves the house with the phone, we can work with peace of mind. However, we are also quite worried because at his age, he cannot fully perceive all the issues, cannot distinguish what is suitable and what is not, he can be exposed to bad things.
I think the above regulation is very good, it can limit the time children use their phones when their parents are not around. I hope this regulation will be widely applied, and my child's school will also apply it," said Ms. Thuy.
According to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training in Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT on the Regulations of Secondary Schools, High Schools and Multi-level General Schools, students are not allowed to use mobile phones or other devices while studying in class that are not used for learning purposes and are not permitted by teachers. The regulations do not prohibit students from bringing or using mobile phones during breaks at school.
