Phone-free school model in Ho Chi Minh City

In the digital age, smartphones have become an indispensable tool in daily life. However, the use of phones in the school environment brings many challenges, such as distracting students, affecting the quality of learning, and even leading to mental health problems due to social media abuse.

Many schools in Ho Chi Minh City organize experiential activities for students during recess.

Realizing this, many schools in Ho Chi Minh City are implementing measures to limit students' use of cell phones in school, aiming to build safe and friendly schools.

Without waiting until now, since its establishment in 2004 until now, Luong The Vinh High School, Cau Ong Lanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City has persistently implemented the regulation prohibiting students from using mobile phones on school grounds.

This regulation is not only a management measure but also part of the educational philosophy, to help students focus on their studies and extracurricular activities.

To implement this regulation, Luong The Vinh High School has applied the “phone bag” model. This is a simple but effective solution, designed to ensure feasibility and ease of implementation.

Nguyen An Ninh High School, Ho Chi Minh City organizes extracurricular hours at school.

Specifically, each classroom is equipped with a phone bag, sized to hold all the students’ phones in the class. When students arrive at school in the morning, the class monitor will be responsible for collecting their phones right in the classroom.

The class monitor then transfers the bag to the desk of the grade supervisor, where the phone bag will be kept safe during the school day. At the end of the school day, the student will receive the phone back from the class monitor, under the supervision of the supervisor.

This model not only helps students avoid the "temptation" of mobile devices but also trains self-discipline and collective responsibility.

According to the Board of Directors of Luong The Vinh High School, to encourage students to support the regulation of keeping cell phones all day and create a healthy school environment, the school has created impressive, diverse and attractive recess times.

Painting exhibition: "Colors" for 10th graders, Nguyen Du High School, Ho Chi Minh City.

The activities are designed not only to help students temporarily forget about their phones but also to bring physical health benefits, develop communication skills, and foster team spirit such as exciting sports games right on the school yard during recess.

At the same time, to improve health and create synchronization in collective activities, the school has innovated mid-break exercises and art performances to celebrate major events, turning them into highlights during recess.

In the 2024-2025 school year, Thanh Loc High School, An Phu Dong Ward, Ho Chi Minh City boldly applied the policy of "No cell phone use in school, including during recess".

This is an important decision, stemming from educational practice, with the desire to bring a healthy, dynamic learning environment, while nurturing creativity and connection between students.

Students of Thanh Loc High School play music together (Photo courtesy).


Before implementing this regulation, Thanh Loc High School noticed a fairly common situation: During recess, instead of interacting with friends, many students looked down at their phones, rarely talked, and almost "lived in a virtual world".

These things pose an urgent need: Schools need a strong and creative solution to change the situation.

Mr. Dang Van Thanh, Vice Principal of Thanh Loc High School

Traditional sports and recreational activities are abandoned, the school yard becomes quiet, lacking the inherent excitement of school age.

Many students get lost in social networks, commenting negatively, gossiping, and even insulting each other, leading to conflicts and unfortunate cases of school violence.

“These things pose an urgent need: The school needs a strong and creative solution to change the current situation,” said Mr. Dang Van Thanh, Vice Principal of Thanh Loc High School.

Thanh Loc High School students play basketball together (Photo courtesy).

According to Mr. Dang Van Thanh, to make up for the gap when there are no phones, the school has built suitable facilities and encouraged many creative activities for students to participate in during recess.

Specifically, the school organizes sports activities: Volleyball, basketball, badminton, shuttlecock, table tennis. Artistic and cultural activities such as singing, rope jumping, group dancing, singing and musical instrument clubs...

Creating an open learning space: The library is equipped with modern computers, allowing students to research learning materials under the supervision of librarians.

The school also encourages homeroom teachers and subject teachers to accompany students during recess and sports, support study corners, and create more cohesive playgrounds.

After a year of implementation, the school has recorded that students are more focused in class and less distracted. Recess has become an active and exciting time, with many students actively participating in sports and cultural activities.

Students play folk games during recess (Photo courtesy).

In addition, children have the opportunity to interact and connect with friends, significantly reducing conflicts and disagreements on social networks. Physical and mental health is improved, many children have reduced pressure and stress...

Psychologist Dr. Bui Hong Quan, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, said: The popularity of mobile phone use among students and teenagers has created both positive values ​​and negative consequences for the school environment.

On the positive side, cell phones can be effective learning tools when used properly.

Educating about the use of technology and building appropriate control mechanisms in schools is necessary to promote positive aspects and limit negative impacts.

Dr. Bui Hong Quan, Psychology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education

On the negative side, many studies have demonstrated the adverse effects of students and teenagers overusing phones in school. In terms of physical health, when phones are banned during recess, the level of physical activity in students increases significantly, replacing “sitting still” behavior with active games.

Psychologist Dr. Bui Hong Quan said: It can be seen that mobile phones are a two-sided tool: They both support learning and information connection, and potentially affect the performance, physical health, social relationships and mental life of students and teenagers.

Therefore, educating people about the use of technology and building appropriate control mechanisms in schools is necessary to promote positive aspects and limit negative impacts.

In order to build a healthy, safe and friendly school environment in the spirit of "Happy School"; increase physical activities, communication and entertainment of students during recess, contributing to improving the quality of comprehensive education, the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City is drafting a Plan to implement restrictions on the use of phones and electronic devices during recess at educational institutions in Ho Chi Minh City.

Students participate in the STEM Education Program at school.

Accordingly, the implementation roadmap is divided into 2 phases: Phase 1 (pilot) from October 2025 to the end of semester I of the 2025-2026 school year.

Currently, the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City is piloting a program in 16 schools in Ho Chi Minh City to ban the use of cell phones during recess.

Phase 2 (expansion, official): From January 2026, deployed simultaneously at all general education institutions in Ho Chi Minh City.

CAO TAN

Source: https://nhandan.vn/mo-hinh-truong-hoc-khong-dien-thoai-o-thanh-pho-ho-chi-minh-post922273.html