France to ban phones in high schools from September

The French government on August 24 approved a ban on mobile phones in high schools starting in September. However, unions have warned that the rule will be difficult to implement quickly, The Straits Times reported.

In July, the French parliament approved a law that would ban social media use by children under 15 and phones in high schools. The measure is part of President Emmanuel Macron’s drive to reduce screen time for children, as the government is concerned about the negative impact of phones on children’s development.

In early August, the country’s Supreme Court overturned the ban on social media, a surprise blow to Macron. However, the Constitutional Council did not overturn a separate article banning phones in high schools.

On August 24, government spokeswoman Maud Brejon announced that Macron had decided to enact the law. He said after a cabinet meeting: "As a result, the ban on mobile phones in high schools could come into force legally at the start of the new school year."

The school year in France starts in September. The country already has a ban on phones in colleges and primary schools for students aged 11 to 15. In early July, even before parliament had fully adopted the law, high schools were instructed to prepare for the September ban. To implement the ban, schools will need to amend their internal regulations.

**"Schools are not ready"**

However, many schools may face difficulties in implementing the measure because there is very little time left to prepare. François Rene, national secretary of the main union of French school principals (SNPDEN-Unsa), criticized the timing as being too inconvenient.

"Schools are not ready," Rene told AFP. He said schools are starting the new school year with procedures that are not yet written into internal regulations.

Christel Coffman, deputy general secretary of the union, is one of the few school leaders who have prepared in advance for the ban. At her school, phones will be banned from the building and in the corridors from the start of the school year, but will be allowed in the courtyard. She said it could take almost a year for the ban to be fully implemented in all schools. "It is very difficult to force young people to accept the new rule. You cannot put one supervisor behind each student," she said.

Camille Chibly, vice-president of the Occitanie regional council in southern France, revealed a significant financial issue. He said it would cost the authorities around 40,000 euros to buy digital bags and lockable shelves for smartphones for a school with 1,500 students.

High school students regularly use smartphones to check class schedule updates and classroom numbers. Some teachers also rely on phones for research, exercises, and document sharing during class.