Principal happy to be able to legally collect students' phones

Collecting students' phones without regulations

Sharing with Dan Tri reporter, the principal of a high school said that he has asked teachers to collect students' phones before each class from the 2022-2023 school year.

"But honestly, the school did it for the students, for the quality of teaching and learning, but at that time there were no specific regulations allowing teachers to do that," the principal said.

At his school, students must bring their phones to the teacher's desk at the beginning of each class and take them back at the end of the class. Students who use their phones during class without permission from the teacher will receive a demerit point.

From the 2024-2025 school year, schools in Hanoi will be able to manage students' phones during class hours (Photo: Hai Long).

Teachers are allowed to confiscate students’ phones at the time they are found using them during class. The maximum confiscation period is 2 weeks. This has been agreed upon by the school and parents through meetings at the beginning of the year.

In the event that parents do not agree to let the teacher confiscate the student's phone, the teacher will return it to the family and require the family to take appropriate control measures.

"In the past 3 years, the school has not encountered any objections from parents regarding the above regulations. 100% of the school's parents agree because this is really beneficial for their children.

However, based on Circular 32 of the Ministry of Education and Training, there is no regulation allowing schools or teachers to confiscate students' phones, because they are personal property," the principal shared.

Similarly, Mr. Dinh Quang Dung - Principal of Lac Long Quan High School, Hanoi - confirmed that the school has been confiscating students' phones during class since 2020.

Students must hand in their phones to the class monitor at the beginning of class. The class monitor puts all phones in a basket, takes them to the school office and puts them in each class's locked locker. Phones will only be returned to students at the end of class.

This means that Lac Long Quan school students are not allowed to hold their phones during recess.

"Students are not allowed to use cell phones during all school hours. The school has a 24/7 hotline for parents to contact when needed. In other emergency situations involving students, teachers and the school are responsible for calling parents.

Therefore, it is completely unnecessary for children to hold phones," Mr. Dung stated his opinion.

Students take high school graduation exam in Hanoi (Photo: Manh Quan).

However, it was not until the Hanoi Department of Education and Training issued a document allowing schools to strictly manage students' use of cell phones during class, depending on actual conditions, that Mr. Dung breathed a sigh of relief because the regulations were officially "legalized".

"When students are allowed to use phones at school, many consequences arise. One is that they easily lose focus during class. Two is that they lose connection with friends and reduce physical activity. Three is that they can be drawn into bad behaviors such as conflicts and arguments online, leading to school violence.

In addition, students can use recording devices to spread bad images or distorted images that are not true to their nature. These are all things that directly affect students' learning as well as their personality and moral development," Mr. Dung emphasized.

Teachers confidently "declared war" on students using phones in class

Ms. Hoang Thi Hoa, a high school chemistry teacher, shared: "For a long time, many teachers have been confiscating students' phones during class, but not thoroughly. Because teachers do not dare to take strong measures."

In Ms. Hoa’s class, students must hand in their phones at the beginning of each class period and can take them back during recess. However, students often skipping class without handing them in.

According to a survey conducted by Dan Tri newspaper on whether readers agree with Hanoi's regulation on tightening students' cell phone use in schools, as of the morning of October 18, with more than 13,600 votes, 91% agreed with this regulation, and 9% disagreed.

According to Ms. Hoa, there was a case where the teacher collected more than 10 phones from the whole class at the beginning of the first period. But by the second period, the number of phones was only 6.

Teachers know that students are skipping out on their phones. But if they don’t catch them using their phones during class, they can’t ask them to hand them over. There’s no such rule.

"However, from now on, teachers will confidently "declare war" on students using phones in class. The document of the Department of Education and Training has allowed the school board and teachers to manage students' phones before the first class and return the phones to students after school and class.

This means that confiscating students' phones before each class to ensure the quality of teaching and learning is completely legitimate," Ms. Hoa expressed her joy with the new regulation.

Ms. Hoa added that since the beginning of the week, she has proposed to parents a "stricter" management measure. If students deliberately do not hand in their phones, the teacher will record them in the class notebook and calculate their conduct score. 100% of the parents in the class agreed with this proposal.

Ms. Phan Thanh Huyen (Cau Giay, Hanoi) expressed: "Strict regulations on the use of phones in classrooms and schools only benefit students."

However, according to Ms. Huyen, to make parents feel more secure while their children are at school, schools need to strengthen and supplement their communication systems with parents.

"Private schools are doing this very well. I think public schools can also do it through learning apps. For example, announcing attendance at the beginning of class so parents know their children are safe in class. Schools also need to have a hotline for parents to contact when needed," Ms. Huyen suggested.

Since last weekend, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training has issued a document requesting schools to strictly implement regulations on the use of mobile phones and broadcasting devices in schools; requesting students not to use mobile phones while studying in class.

Accordingly, depending on actual conditions, the school's Board of Directors and teachers will manage students' phones and broadcasting and receiving devices before the first class (manage by class) and return phones and broadcasting and receiving devices to students after school and class.

In classes that require the use of mobile phones, receiving and broadcasting devices and with the teacher's permission, students are allowed to bring mobile phones and receiving and broadcasting devices into the classroom for use.

The Department of Education and Training requires that units must not allow students to use phones in class but not for learning purposes and without teachers' permission.

In the 2024-2025 school year, many countries around the world have strongly "declared war" on students using phones during class such as: Netherlands, Greece, Denmark, Hungary, UK...

Previously, China and South Korea also banned students from using phones in class.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/hieu-truong-mung-vi-duoc-thu-dien-thoai-cua-hoc-sinh-mot-cach-hop-phap-20241017185520912.htm