Education

New Amendment Gives School Greater Control over Students' Phone Use

Published
Updated

By Howard Chang/John Van Trieste

Open in App

Lawmakers have given schools greater leeway to restrict students' phone use in the classroom with an update to the law. But some parents and teachers feel more finessing would make the new amendment more reasonable and effective.

Amendment Gives Taiwan Schools More Power to Limit Phone Use

REPORTER:  
As Taiwan enters its final week of summer break for students, lawmakers have given schools more leeway to limit students’ phone use in class with a new amendment to the School Health Act. Some parents welcome the news.

Ms. Tseng (PARENT):  
I’m in favor.  
Because phones give kids too many temptations like Douyin.  
It’s not very good for children.

Mr. Lin:  
[Parents] are afraid kids won’t focus in class.  
They’ll be constantly looking at social media  
and facing unknown temptations or misinformation.

REPORTER:  
But some parents hope the new approach to phones in class will be nuanced—taking into account the needs of students at different ages.

Ms. Liu (PARENT):  
Middle and high school students may need them for class  
or they may need them to contact parents after class.  
We might be able to discuss this more.  
Maybe schools could be more flexible  
for example handing back phones once class is over.

REPORTER:  
Teachers, meanwhile, hope for more detailed provisions in the law to make it effective—taking into account their views as well as the views of parents and students—so that the new amendments have a real impact.

Yeh Chin-chi (NAT’L FEDERATION OF TEACHERS’ UNIONS):  
We still feel the symbolic outweighs the substantive here.  
How will this be implemented once [the laws] take effect?  
If it gets to the point where enforcement measures are needed  
we hope the law will give teachers a bit more backing.

REPORTER:  
While the debate is far from over, the first test will come August 31, when classes resume.