Ho Chi Minh City: 16 pilot schools restrict students from using phones during recess

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training has just announced a list of 16 high schools in the area that will pilot a restriction on students using phones and electronic devices during recess, starting from October 2025 until the end of the first semester of the 2025-2026 school year.

Accordingly, 16 schools were selected to represent 16 professional clusters of the city, including Nguyen An Khuong Secondary School (Hoc Mon commune), Vo Truong Toan High School (Tan Thoi Hiep ward), Nguyen Thai Binh High School (Tan Hoa ward), Cau Kieu Secondary School (Cau Kieu ward), Tran Dai Nghia Secondary School and High School (Sai ​​Gon ward), District 6 Continuing Education and Vocational Training Center (Binh Tay ward), An Lac High School (An Lac ward), Nguyen Huu Tho Secondary School (Tan Hung ward), Binh Chieu High School (Tam Binh ward), Hiep Phu Secondary School (Tang Nhon Phu ward), Phuoc Kien High School (Nha Be commune), Trinh Hoai Duc High School (Thuan An ward), Phu Giao Continuing Education and Vocational Training Center (Phu Giao commune), My Thanh Secondary School (Ben Cat ward), Nguyen Khuyen-Ba Ria-Vung Tau High School (Phuoc Thang ward) and Long Dien-Dat Do Continuing Education Center (Long Dien commune).

Ho Chi Minh City students in an extracurricular activity learning to make cakes.

During the pilot period, schools will organize many activities to encourage students to interact, exercise and develop soft skills instead of using phones. Each school must have at least three activities during recess such as sports , arts, folk games, reading or life skills clubs; students are required to participate in at least one appropriate activity.

To ensure effective implementation, the Department of Education and Training requires schools to organize a commitment signing between students and parents, and report weekly monitoring results to families. Violators will be warned, criticized or disciplined according to regulations if they re-offend.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, limiting the use of cell phones during recess is aimed at building a healthy, safe, and friendly school environment, moving towards the spirit of “happy school”. This policy is expected to help increase physical activity, communication, and bonding between students, thereby improving the quality of comprehensive education.

After the pilot phase ends, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training will evaluate the results and plans to officially expand the application to all general education institutions in the city from January 2026.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/ban-tron-giao-duc/tp-ho-chi-minh-16-truong-thi-diem-han-che-hoc-sinh-su-dung-dien-thoai-trong-gio-ra-choi-20251008100709976.htm