France to Enforce Mobile Phone Ban in High Schools From September
France is set to enforce a ban on mobile phone use in high schools from September, a decision finalised after President Emmanuel Macron announced it.
The move comes after the French Constitutional Council struck down earlier this month the part of a law banning social media access for under-15s, while a separate provision on mobile phones in high schools remained in place.
According to Agence France-Presse, the French parliament passed a law in July that both restricted social media access for children under 15 and banned mobile phone use in high schools. The plan was described as part of Macron’s effort to reduce children’s screen time.
However, the association of senior school administrators said there had not been enough time to implement the ban. The group said many schools were told in July to prepare, but some institutions have still not updated their internal rules and are facing practical difficulties in enforcement.
Madja Bergeron, the French government spokesperson, said on Monday after a cabinet meeting that Macron had decided to announce the mobile phone ban. She added that the ban could take effect from the start of the new school year with “a stable, established and legal framework.”
France had already banned mobile phone use for children in primary schools and colleges. In France’s education system, colleges cover pupils aged 11 to 15.
