France readies high school phone ban from new term

The French government announced on Monday that it intends to enforce a ban on mobile phones in high schools from the beginning of the upcoming academic year. In July, the country's parliament enacted legislation restricting access to social media for children under 15 and prohibiting mobile phone use in high schools. However, the Constitutional Council recently ruled against the social media provision, causing disappointment for President Emmanuel Macron, who had advocated for the measure.

Despite this setback, the Constitutional Council did not invalidate the separate provision banning mobile phone use in high schools. Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon disclosed on Monday that President Macron had decided to enact the law containing the mobile phone ban, even though the Constitutional Council struck down the flagship provision banning social media for under-15s.

Consequently, the ban on mobile phones in high schools may commence at the start of the new school year, providing a stable, unified, and statutory legal framework, she informed reporters after a cabinet meeting. France has previously imposed a ban on mobile phones for students in colleges.