Mobile phones off limits in classrooms, targeting teenagers

CHANGSHA -- Authorities in Central China's Hunan province have banned students from bringing mobile phones into classrooms, citing myopia problems.

Products with electronic displays, such as tablet computers, are also off-limits in classrooms among students, according to a plan targeting children and teenagers and jointly issued by eight government organs in Hunan.

Classroom work should be done on paper, according to the plan.

The plan bans kindergartens from assigning homework. Homework is also banned among Grade One and Grade Two students in elementary schools, while homework for pupils in Grade Three to Grade Six should be done within 60 minutes. Homework time for junior schools should be within 90 minutes, and that for high schoolers should be "assigned properly." Boarding schools should slash evening study time.

The plan requires parents to make sure their children sleep properly and control the time during which their children use electronic devices.

Hunan plans to decrease the rate of myopia among children and teenagers significantly by 2030.