'Phone-Free School' Initiative Surpasses 1,300 Participating Schools...Over 10,000 Students Taking 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' program has also exceeded 10,000 participating students, demonstrating strong engagement from schools and students.

The 'Phone-Free School' is a school culture initiative led by student councils to reduce smartphone usage at schools and support students in communicating with friends and participating in various activities such as RAS (Reading, Arts, and Sports).

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

In particular, the program places emphasis on students' self-reflection as they consistently practice over 100 days. Students record situations where practice was difficult and the process of overcoming obstacles and trying again, gradually finding ways to monitor and regulate their own smartphone usage habits. Through this, students can enhance their self-regulation regarding smartphone use and develop self-directed learning by setting and achieving their own goals.

Starting with phone-free practice campaigns and challenge activities, the office plans to continually discover and share cases of student changes and growth with schools. In particular, through the 'Phone-Free School' and 'Phone-Free 100-Day Miracle,' the office will support students' voluntary practice in naturally taking root in school life and extending to homes and communities.

Schools create a phone-free culture centered on student councils where students practice and develop initiatives together, homes continuously encourage small daily practices, and communities expand students' experiences by connecting various activities and experiences.

Going forward, the Office of Education plans to actively promote the substantialization and cultural establishment of the phone-free initiative, ensuring 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.