China bans classroom mobile phone use over addiction concerns

Pupils have the first class at a primary school in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Sept. 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- China's primary and middle schools have introduced a ban on mobile phone use in classrooms, among wider efforts to protect pupils from internet and video game addiction.

Primary and middle school students should not bring mobile phones into classrooms, according to a circular from the Ministry of Education (MOE) on phones on campus.

If students must have a mobile phone at school, a special request should be submitted to school authorities along with written consent from their guardians, said the MOE.

Once the request has been approved, students should hand in their mobile phones to relevant school authorities upon arrival. The phones will be kept together and should by no means be allowed into classrooms, according to the circular.

Further measures will be put in place by schools to better meet students' needs in reaching their parents over the phone while on campus.