Should students use cell phones at school?

The phenomenon of students using cell phones continues, more or less affecting the learning outcomes of students and the pedagogical environment of the class and school. How to make this regulation effective is a matter of concern to society.

No cell phones in class

Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT dated September 15, 2020 of the Ministry of Education and Training on the Regulations of Secondary Schools, High Schools and Multi-level General Schools stipulates: "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."

Managing students' use of phones in schools still faces many problems. Photo: Cong Hung

In order to guide teachers and schools in managing, exploiting and using teaching equipment (including mobile phones) effectively, in accordance with the conditions of teaching organization and the socio-economic situation of the locality, the Ministry of Education and Training issued Official Dispatch No. 5512/BGDĐT-GDTrH dated December 18, 2020, stating: “Students are not required to be equipped with mobile phones for learning purposes. Allowing students to use mobile phones in the classroom to support learning activities is decided by the teacher directly teaching the subject; teachers provide specific instructions in activities designed in the lesson plan so that all students are not required to have a phone to use and ensure that the requirements are consistent with the learning content. Teachers specifically notify students that they are only allowed to use phones as a device to support learning activities and what students are not allowed to do when using phones in class, during class time”.

Thus, using cell phones at school is still basically prohibited and students are only allowed to use them with the teacher's consent and for learning purposes under the management and supervision of teachers, schools and students' families.

 

I don’t let my child bring a phone to class, but he said that almost everyone in the class has a phone and brings it to school. The homeroom teacher in my child’s class also sent a document asking parents to sign a commitment not to let students use phones, but it was unsuccessful. If the Ministry of Education and Training or the Department of Education and Training had a general regulation that applied to the entire system (except for lessons that require technology), I think it would be much more feasible.

Mr. Nguyen Chi Nghia, parent of a student in Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi.

At Dinh Tien Hoang High School (Ba Dinh District), early in the morning, each student will put their personal phone in the classroom's common management box, and the class officer is responsible for supervising this. In addition, there are teachers who regularly check and remind students to strictly follow this; to avoid students forgetting or intentionally not putting it away, leading to loss of concentration during class.

Tran Hung Dao High School (Thanh Xuan District) also does not allow students to use phones during class. Phone management is carried out in a similar way, that is, the class prepares a box, before entering the class, students will be reminded to put their phones in silent mode and put their phones in there one by one, to avoid affecting the quality of the class.

“Because putting it in a common box will not manage and monitor each student specifically, after consulting with parents, my class built a wooden shelf near the teacher's desk area. Before entering the classroom, students are reminded to bring their phones there. The open compartments have the student's name on them, so if any compartment is empty, it means that the student either did not bring their phone to class, or brought it but did not put it in the designated place; then the class monitor can easily remind each individual and require them to follow the regulations,” shared Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Linh, a teacher at Nguyen Trai High School (Ba Dinh District).

According to Nguyen Cao Cuong, Principal of Thai Thinh Secondary School (Dong Da District), when coming to school, students are not allowed to use their phones in class without permission from the teacher. In case students bring their phones to school, their phones are managed in a mobile phone box at the beginning of each class and returned when the class ends.

Need to unify the way of doing

To completely prohibit students from using phones during class, a school in Hanoi has issued a regulation prohibiting students from bringing phones to school. Accordingly, in case students have an urgent matter and need to contact their families or vice versa, they will go through the school office by calling or coming directly.

However, for those who accidentally bring their phones to school, the classes also have a department to protect the phones for students. "The school's point of view is that students must turn off their phones before entering the school and can only turn them on after school," said a representative of this unit.

Expressing her opinion on this issue, Ms. Nguyen Thu An, a teacher at a secondary school in Thanh Xuan district, said that in many current lessons, interaction and practice are required, so teachers allow students to use smart devices; however, these lessons are planned and announced in advance so that both students and parents are aware and prepared. Therefore, it is necessary to prohibit students from using phones at school; it is even necessary to come up with specific solutions and handling methods so that schools can unify in implementation.

“The principle of teaching is to create attention for students. If students do not concentrate, it will be difficult to complete the goals and requirements; therefore, it is extremely necessary to issue a regulation prohibiting the use of phones during class,” said Dr. Nguyen Tung Lam, Chairman of the Board of Dinh Tien Hoang High School (Ba Dinh District).

According to Dr. Nguyen Tung Lam, students should only be required not to use phones during class, but should not be banned from bringing phones to school; students should not even be banned from using phones during recess because it does not affect the lesson; moreover, using phones for entertainment during recess is not a bad thing.

“The ban on students using cell phones during class is mainly to train their awareness, consciousness, and self-discipline. In case of student violations, we should not apply rigid measures but should be flexible and coordinate with families in educating them,” said Vu Dinh Ha, Principal of Tran Hung Dao High School (Thanh Xuan District).

From another perspective, the principal of a high school in the suburbs of Hanoi said that students bringing cell phones to school not only has many potential factors related to management work, but also leads to a decrease in the quality of education. Therefore, it is necessary to have drastic intervention and more specific guidance from the Ministry of Education and Training, from which to direct the Departments of Education and Training and schools instead of just mentioning it generally in the Circular as it is now.

No one denies the effects of phones and technology in life as well as in learning, but clearly, mobile phones are taking up too much of students' time; directly affecting their physical and mental health. It is time for a stronger, more drastic and clearer solution to minimize the negative impact of mobile phones on students every day in class.

 

Recently, the British Ministry of Education has asked principals to firmly ban students from using mobile phones during school hours, including recess, so that they can focus on their studies. According to The Guardian, the new directive from the British Ministry of Education provides instructions for schools to firmly ban students from using mobile phones in school, such as students are only allowed to use their phones before and after school; students are required to leave their phones at home; give their phones to the school for safekeeping or leave them in lockers when they come to school... Students who violate this rule may have their phones confiscated. Teachers are also not allowed to use phones in school unless necessary for work. Similarly, many countries such as France, the Netherlands, Greece, China... also ban mobile phones nationwide in schools.

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/hoc-sinh-co-nen-su-dung-dien-thoai-khi-den-truong.html