00:00The time between classes is a brief window for students to hop on Instagram or get in
00:09a few rounds on their favourite mobile game, but having constant mobile phone access at
00:14schools in Taiwan could soon be a privilege revoked.
00:20Taiwan's education ministry has submitted a draft bill that would mean stricter regulations
00:25on students using phones in schools from September.
00:29Lawmakers agree that phones are having a negative impact on young people's education,
00:34but say any solution needs to include their perspectives too.
00:37The management of mobile phone service should be able to help students in schools, but
00:44it can't make a change in schools, so to respect students' voice, we hope that the teachers
00:51will continue.
00:53As it stands, the draft bill will force elementary and junior high schools to collect and store
00:58all students' phones for the entire school day.
01:02For senior high schools, they'll need to formulate their own smartphone policies after consulting
01:06with teachers, parents and students.
01:09Students will only be given access to their phones in case of an emergency or if it's
01:14needed for educational purposes.
01:16The proposed changes are welcomed by many, though some are concerned about how they'll
01:21be implemented.
01:22Well, I think it's a great idea, but with most things like this, the devil is in the details,
01:29and actually executing it is going to be a challenge.
01:33These are very expensive devices that you're separating from their owners, which leaves the
01:37issue of liability there.
01:39The school where I'm currently employed has already banned cell phones, but students still
01:45do find a way to get them and use them in class.
01:48And while many students agree phones can be a distraction, particularly for younger children,
01:53some senior high schoolers say they could be losing a valuable learning tool.
01:57Some things you don't have to be able to use in the books or ask the teacher, and you
02:06can ask the students so many people.
02:08So you need to find a way to find a way to find a way to find a way to find a way to find
02:10yourself.
02:11For me, I think that high school is probably able to be able to use a mobile phone.
02:15But in the middle of the world, I think I would still recommend not use a mobile phone.
02:21If passed, Taiwan would join a growing list of countries with some form of phone ban in
02:33schools including China, Australia and many across Europe as education officials the world
02:39over turn on to the idea of getting students to turn these off. Chris Ma and Rhys Ayers
02:45in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.
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