To Prevent Game Addiction, China Issues Ban On Playing Cellphones In Classroom

Busyness in an elementary school in Beijing, China (M. Irfan Ilmie / Antara)

JAKARTA - Education authorities in China issued a ban on the use of cell phones for elementary and middle school students in the classroom. China wants to minimize game addiction in children as well as to increase children's learning concentration.

The prohibition also applies to teachers in assigning homework assignments to their students.

In a decree circulating in Chinese media, Wednesday, February 3, the Chinese Ministry of Education explained that elementary and middle school students are asked not to bring cellphones into the school, unless they have the consent of parents who previously submitted written requests to the school. .

The prohibition is to increase the concentration of students in their subject areas, including preventing them from becoming addicted to playing games.

As a follow-up to the ban, the government was asked to provide public telephones as well as electronic-based student cards which are used as communication channels between students and their parents.

Secondary schools in China are a combination of junior and senior high schools with a total education period of six years.