'Phone-Free School' Initiative Surpasses 1,300 Participating Schools…Over 10,000 Students Take on '100-Day Miracle' Challenge

The 'Phone-Free School' initiative promoted by Gyeonggi Province Office of Education (Superintendent An Min-seok) has surpassed 1,300 participating schools as of the 15th. The 'Phone-Free 100-Day Miracle' has also seen student participation exceed 10,000, demonstrating strong enthusiasm from schools and communities.

The 'Phone-Free School' is a school culture initiative centered on student government that reduces smartphone use in schools and supports students in communicating with friends and participating in diverse activities including RAS (Reading, Arts, and Sports).

The 'Phone-Free 100-Day Miracle' is a program in which students reflect on their smartphone usage habits and set their own practical goals and phone-free rules in daily life to practice over 100 days. Students record their progress and experiences, and use the time freed from smartphones for meaningful activities such as studying and RAS activities, and building relationships with friends, family, and the community.

Particularly, the program emphasizes reflection on students' lives through consistent practice over 100 days. Students record situations where practice was difficult and the process of overcoming challenges and trying again, helping them find ways to self-monitor and regulate their smartphone usage habits. Through this process, students can enhance their self-regulation regarding smartphone use and develop self-directed learning by setting and achieving their own goals.

The office plans to continue discovering cases of student change and growth starting with phone-free practice campaigns and challenge activities, and to maintain communication with schools in the field. In particular, through the 'Phone-Free School' and 'Phone-Free 100-Day Miracle' initiatives, the office will support students' voluntary practice to naturally take root in school life and extend to homes and communities.

Schools, centered on student government, will create a phone-free culture where students practice and participate together; homes will continuously encourage small daily practices; and communities will expand students' experiences by linking diverse learning opportunities and activities.

Moving forward, the office plans to actively promote the substantialization and cultural establishment of the phone-free initiative so that students' voluntary practice naturally extends beyond schools to homes and communities, and becomes a sustainable culture in the daily lives of the educational community.