Tuning Out Tech, Turning Into Class: Inside the No-Gadget Policy

“Put your phones inside the phone box, please.” 

Each morning, a familiar reminder echoes through the classrooms of MGC New Life Christian Academy as chatter replaces scrolling and students settle into their seats—without a single phone in sight.

Under the school’s new no-gadget policy, students are required to place their phones in designated phone holders each morning until dismissal—a move aimed at reducing distractions and improving engagement during class hours. 

The policy, implemented in the Upper Primary Years (UPY) Department, Junior High School (JHS) Department, and Senior High School (SHS) Department, allows students to access their phones only for academic-related purposes when required for their given subject. However, SHS students are permitted to use their phones during recess and lunch break. 

While some students initially found it difficult to adjust to this new policy, the overall response has consistently been positive across departments. Supervisors noted that the impact has been beneficial as connections between students and teachers have strengthened, classroom disruptions have decreased, and free time has increasingly been used for consultation with teachers and collaborative activities. 

Iris Chiu, mother of students in Berea and Olive, shared her observations of her children after the new rule was implemented. “The gadget policy helped my [children] focus more on learning while in school—not just in learning, but also in socializing the ‘normal’ way, like speaking to people face to face, asking questions, and interacting in a non-digital way,” she said.

Meanwhile, a survey in the UPY Department showed that 22 out of 27 teachers agreed that the gadget policy benefits both students and teachers. UPY Supervisor Mary Ann Papey noticed that with the decreased reliance on gadgets, students have been able to think more independently and have since improved their concentration and engagement in classes.

This same trend was reflected in the JHS Department, where teachers remarked that students converse with one another more freely throughout the day. “Since the implementation of the gadget policy, we have observed significant changes,” revealed JHS Supervisor Karen Fulgencio, “Students interact more naturally during breaks and lunch time, [creating] a livelier sense of community in the hallways.”

JHS teacher Bhetanny Louis Go remarked, “I have always viewed gadgets as a major source of distraction, so I was not in favor of allowing students to use them during breaks. … It’s nice to witness them building genuine connections without relying on their phones.”

At the beginning of the policy’s implementation, SHS teacher Richelle Kho noticed an increase in students’ creativity, as they entertained themselves with old-school games or traditional pen-and-paper activities.

“It minimizes distractions, helping students concentrate better on lessons and activities. Teachers also experience smoother class management and improved student engagement since everyone’s attention stays on learning rather than their screens,” shared SHS Supervisor Raquiel Pinlac. “With fewer distractions, they listen more attentively and contribute more actively during discussions.”

However, Zion student Jazelle Dionne Lim also observed the limitations of the gadget policy. “I’ve seen how the gadget policy has its loopholes though, with others still being distracted during class time with their laptops and iPads,” she said.

This policy has since encouraged students to be more mindful of their surroundings and use their devices responsibly, addressing the previous concerns of academic honesty and data privacy. It has also prevented the spread of information online during assessments and the taking of pictures or videos without consent, noted Fulgencio.