Education officials are considering banning mobile phone use in all Thai classrooms, following a new initiative announced in Bangkok aimed at improving learning conditions. The proposed measures seek to reduce distractions and limit the health and behavioural impacts linked to excessive screen time. If adopted, changes would begin in the 2026 academic year.

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The move follows Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt’s programme, “Phone Off, Learning On: Focus on Learning, Leave Your Phone with the Teacher”. The initiative is designed to create a more effective classroom environment by encouraging students to disengage from their devices during lessons. Several schools under the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) have already introduced similar restrictions.

On 16 March 2026, Dr Pichet Phoophakdee, Secretary-General of OBEC, said schools currently have discretion to decide how to manage mobile phone use. He noted that administrators and teachers are best placed to determine appropriate rules based on their specific contexts. He also confirmed that the issue will be raised at an upcoming OBEC executive meeting involving senior officials and department directors.

Dr Pichet stated that students should focus fully on their studies during lessons rather than being distracted by mobile phones. He added that teachers should also avoid using phones while teaching in order to maintain attention in the classroom. Under potential measures, teachers could collect phones at the start of lessons and return them during lunch breaks or after school.

He also noted that exceptions could be allowed in urgent situations on a case-by-case basis. The forthcoming OBEC meeting will gather input from various stakeholders before any formal policy is announced. Authorities are expected to communicate the outcome publicly once discussions are complete.

The proposal reflects growing concern among education officials about the impact of digital devices on student concentration and behaviour. It also aligns with broader efforts to improve academic focus and classroom discipline. Schools that have already implemented restrictions may serve as models for wider adoption.

ThaiRath reported that further deliberations at OBEC level will determine whether a standardised policy is introduced nationwide or whether schools will continue to operate independently. Any confirmed measures are expected to take effect during the 2026 academic year.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Thairath 18 Mar 2026

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23 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

Education officials are considering banning mobile phone use in all Thai classrooms, following a new initiative announced in Bangkok aimed at improving learning conditions.

Yep. No phones in a class of >40 students is sure to improve learning conditions. At my school phones are collected in the morning and they get them back at the end of the school day. As for "... student concentration and behaviour..." I'm sure if failing students was reintroduced concentration and classroom behaviour would improve significantly.

It is a good move, as the kids will use their mobile in their lessons and are not paying attention. Everyone seems to addicted at the phone. You see everywhere you go people with their phone in their hands no time to look around.. Same in schools, teachers and students are addicted to their screens, afraid that they will miss some unimportant message, Yes I am from the mid of the previous century and we did not have a phone at all in my youth, not even a landline and I grew up without any problem.. As kids we played outside had books to find things and read and I had real friends , and I had a happy youth. I support the phones away in the schools.

The great intellectual struggle of our time!

Deciding whether kids are allowed to be glued to TikTok during class should be a no-brainer.

I agree, this is a good move but improve the teaching skills of teachers while you're at it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWjzjClBCO4&t=5812s

around the 12 minute mark .. The Doctor explains how 50% of American children and 80% of Japanese are falling victim to the damage ( vision damage ) from cell phones and urban congestion

22 minutes ago, Purdey said:

I agree, this is a good move but improve the teaching skills of teachers while you're at it.

Always fascinates me that people who are not teachers always point the finger at the teachers. I'm not saying that some teachers aren't very good but there are plenty of good ones. What is not known by people who have never taught is the difficulties faced by teachers such as having masses of paperwork to do, overcrowded classes (40-50+) and behavioural problems.

2 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Always fascinates me that people who are not teachers always point the finger at the teachers. I'm not saying that some teachers aren't very good but there are plenty of good ones. What is not known by people who have never taught is the difficulties faced by teachers such as having masses of paperwork to do, overcrowded classes (40-50+) and behavioural problems.

My stepdaughter is a teacher, and she works a full day at the school, then comes home and works till midnight on work that her school director has shoved her way so she can have the freedom to spend hours away from the school doing God knows what. My stepdaughter is stressed to the max and suffers from sleep deprivation.

5 hours ago, Jim Waldron said:

The great intellectual struggle of our time!

Deciding whether kids are allowed to be glued to TikTok during class should be a no-brainer.

I agree- my 12 year old son fears for his life if he is more than one meter from his phone

Grammar police post removed @CM Dad

About time. ,, In my daughters school here in Ireland they are not allowed to use there phones inside school buildings

If they are caught with it ,,,, it is confescated and a parent must collect it and sign for it. !

Finally, common sense prevails!

I am a retired professor and the use of cell phones in college classrooms when I retired (4 years ago) had gotten out of hand, and these were young adults who were often paying (or thier parents were) for the privilege of being taught. I don't know how many times I would have to ask the same students to put their phone away. These would be the same students who were usually failing and came and asked for extra credit work later in the term.

I can't imagine having to deal with children who have less self control than adults. Not to mention that Thai children all seem to all have phones at age eight. I am amazed it took Thailand this long to consider this idea.