Following Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt's announcement of proactive measures to control and regulate mobile phone use in Bangkok schools under the “Phone Off, Learning On: Focus on Learning, Leave Your Phone with the Teacher” program, the initiative aims to create an effective learning environment and prevent health and behavioral impacts from excessive screen time, starting in the 2026 academic year.
On 16 March 2026, Dr. Pichet Phoophakdee, Secretary-General of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), said that several schools under OBEC have already prohibited students from using mobile phones in classrooms. OBEC also grants school administrators and teachers the discretion to decide how to manage this issue at their schools. Personally, he believes that during lessons, students should focus fully on learning rather than being distracted by other things or their phones. He added that at an upcoming OBEC executive meeting, which includes deputy secretaries-general, experts, and directors of all departments, he will raise this topic for discussion to gather diverse opinions. OBEC will then inform the public of any resulting policies.
"I think students should concentrate on learning in the classroom, not on their phones. Even teachers should avoid using phones while teaching and focus on their instruction. However, this matter is left to the discretion of each school's administrators and teachers, as contexts vary. If phones are banned during class, teachers can collect them and return them at lunch or after school. In urgent cases, teachers may allow exceptions on a case-by-case basis. To clarify this issue, I will continue discussing it at the OBEC meeting," the Secretary-General said.