TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Education said Monday that proposed amendments would bar the use of personal mobile devices during school hours from the high school level and below.

To address the problem of electronic device addiction among students, the MOE held a consultation meeting on the revised draft of regulations for mobile device use in high schools and below, per Liberty Times. The new policy is expected to take effect in August.

The current regulations only require students to turn off their devices. The new regulations require that students bringing mobile phones, laptops, tablets, smartwatches, and other wearable devices, must not use them during class time.

Instead, the draft revision stipulates the devices will be collected and managed by the school or individual classes. 

However, for educational activities or specific needs, such as emergency communication, flexible management and usage may be adopted. Guidelines for device management and usage will be established based on the type of device and its usage patterns.

The devices must be properly managed to prevent damage or loss, with the management responsibilities clearly defined in the school's regulations.

Department of Information and Technology Education official Tsai Yuan-lin (蔡宛霖) said the revision aims to clarify the responsibilities of staff, and consider flexible storage and usage methods for learning activities and specific personal needs.