Algeria’s schools put Shakespeare before Molière in break from France

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday a plan to ban mobile phones in high schools for the upcoming school year, according to Anadolu Ajansi. The government spokesperson, Maud Bregeon, stated that the ban could begin as early as the start of the new school year. Macron emphasized the importance of protecting children from the negative impacts of screen time, stating that a phone-free school environment would help restore a sense of calm to the learning process.

The legislation, which was introduced on July 21, aimed to safeguard minors from potential risks associated with social media use, although a provision banning social media for children under 15 was ultimately blocked by the Constitutional Council. Bregeon assured that the mobile phone ban in high schools would still be implemented under a robust and legally sound framework.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu pledged to work on a revised version of the social media provisions to address the concerns raised by the Constitutional Council. The government aims to finalize and implement a revised legal framework by the following spring to ensure the protection of children and young people.