France set to ban mobile phones in high schools from new term

In July, France's parliament approved legislation that will prohibit the use of mobile phones in high schools from the start of the next academic year. The move follows a Constitutional Council decision earlier this month that struck down a separate provision banning social‑media access for children under 15, citing freedom of expression. Maud Bregeon, a government spokesperson, said the president has decided to promulgate the law despite the court’s ruling on the social‑media clause.

Why the ban matters

Health experts have warned that excessive screen time can hinder children’s development, and President Emmanuel Macron has made reducing digital exposure a cornerstone of his agenda. While smartphones are already banned in primary schools and collèges (schools for ages 11‑15), high schools have traditionally allowed phones for checking timetables, room assignments and for teachers’ instructional use. The ministry of education’s guidance does allow exemptions for “educational use” or functions essential to school operations.

Implementation hurdles

School leaders say the timing is problematic. François Resnais, national secretary of SNPDEN‑Unsa, the union of school principals, told reporters the rule arrived “badly timed” and that many institutions have not yet amended their internal regulations.

"Schools are not ready," he said.

At Christelle Kauffmann’s high school, phones will be banned inside buildings but allowed outdoors, a compromise she admits may take up to a year to roll out fully.

Logistical costs add another layer of difficulty. Kamel Chibli, vice‑president of the Occitanie regional council, noted that digital lockers or pouches typically cost around €40,000 per school of 1,500 students. The government has not announced funding to cover these expenses.

What comes next

The law is set to take effect at the beginning of the new school year, obliging each high school to revise its internal rules. While the ban on phones is now legally binding, the broader effort to curb children’s use of apps such as TikTok will be pursued in a future draft law, according to the president’s office. Enforcement will likely vary as schools grapple with supervision challenges and the need for secure storage solutions.

With President Emmanuel Macron slated to leave office in May 2027, the phone ban could become one of his lasting policy legacies, shaping how French youths interact with technology in the classroom for years to come.