On the afternoon of October 11, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training issued a directive on managing mobile phone usage in schools.

According to the directive, the department has noted through monitoring, media reports, and public feedback that the use of mobile phones and other broadcasting devices in schools has led to various issues, negatively affecting the quality and effectiveness of teaching and learning.

To address this, the department has instructed district education offices, principals, and schools to enforce the mobile phone usage regulations issued by the Ministry of Education and Training on September 15, 2020.

Specifically, depending on the situation, school administrators and teachers are to collect and manage students' mobile phones and broadcasting devices at the beginning of the school day (organized by each class) and return them to students after school or after the last class of the day.

During lessons that require the use of mobile phones or broadcasting devices, and with the teacher’s permission, students are allowed to bring these devices into the classroom for learning purposes.

The department emphasized that schools must not allow students to use mobile phones in class for non-learning activities or without the teacher’s approval.

To ensure the success of this regulation, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training called on families and parents to work closely with teachers and schools in managing and reminding students about proper mobile phone and recording device usage at school.

Previously, several public and private schools in Ho Chi Minh City also implemented bans on students using mobile phones on school premises, even during break times. These include Thanh Loc High School (District 12) and Truong Chinh High School (District 12).

Other schools, such as Nguyen Thuong Hien High School (Tan Binh District) and Le Thanh Tong High School (Tan Phu District), have banned students from using mobile phones in both the school and dormitory areas during meals, break times, and even lunchtime naps for many years. School administrators believe that this policy helps students focus better on their studies, retain lessons more effectively, and improve their engagement with teachers and classmates, ultimately enhancing academic and extracurricular performance.

Hoang Thanh