Taiwan also pushes to tighten restrictions on the use of smartphones in elementary, middle and high schools

Taiwan has also stepped up restrictions on the use of smartphones on campus by elementary and middle school students.

Taiwan's media, including the Free Times, quoted sources as saying that the Ministry of Education has begun revising laws related to the "norm of use of mobile communication devices on campuses under high schools."

The sources stressed that the ministry will go beyond switching off smartphones after students go to school after 2019, and will further implement a policy of collecting and storing smartphones collectively.

He then explained that the Ministry of Education will complete the revision of the bill ahead of the opening of the second semester of 2024 next month.

At a related public hearing held in October last year, the Taiwan Legislative Court (National Assembly) Education and Culture Committee said the majority of participants expressed their opinion that clear, compulsory and nationwide regulations on the management of students' cell phone use should help teachers who have difficulty managing their academic affairs.

Taiwanese media reported that teachers and parents' groups are actively supporting the ban on mobile phones by students in schools.

However, middle school students said that the percentage of pros and cons of collecting smartphones was 50% respectively, and 90% of high school students opposed it.