HCM City plans to develop “wholesome playing fields” for students to help treat them for online game addiction.

VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City plans to develop “wholesome playing fields” for students to help treat them for online game addiction.

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“There is one thing that has had a big influence on students’ personalities – online games,” noted Education and Training Department Director Huynh Cong Minh on “Noi va lam” (Say and Do) program organized by HCM City People’s Council and HCM City Television on June 6.

According to Nguyen Thanh Nhan, Director of the Southern Youth and Teenage Centre, a recent survey showed that 80 out of 100 polled students say they are addicted to online games, especially violent games.

According to Tran Vinh Sa, a senior official from HCM City Information and Communication Department, the city now has 4750 Internet agents. In 2006, 800 out of 1000 examined agents were found to violate current regulations. In 2007, over 900 agents violated the law and were forced to stop providing eight unwholesome online games. The Internet agents had regular game players who were students and played games all night.

The game-addicted students all look pale from lack of sleep, while their class performance worsened within a short time. Many students have even acted violently toward their parents.

Vo Van Long, Deputy Director of HCM City Information and Communication Department, admitted that it is very difficult to prohibit students from playing online games because they are so attractive

To deal with online game addiction, Huynh Van Minh from Hoang Hoa Tham High School suggested that schools join forces with families to educate students and help them escape from addiction. Internet agents also need to check the identity cards of game players.

Nguyen Kim Hen, Head of Parent-Student Association of Hoang Hoa Tham High School, has asked educators to reconsider personality education. Hoang Hoa Tham High School students complain that the curricula on citizen education is dry and unsubstantial, studying economic laws when they need lively morality lessons.

Pham Phuong Thao, Chair of the HCM City People’s Council, observed that educators need to make citizen education lessons become more interactive and provide useful and detailed case studies, helping educate students on personality and life skills.

“Online game addiction should be seen as a big problem that needs to be settled, or it will cause a big disaster. The city’s departments need to join forces,” posited Vo Van Sen, member of the HCM City People’s Council and President of HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

Thao stressed that unwholesome online games have a large impact on the behaviour and lifestyle of many students. This is considered one of the most important factors in the increase of school violence cases recently.

Thao added that the city will create many wholesome playing fields for students, thus helping them avoid online game addiction.

Source: Nguoi lao dong