France Moves to Ban Mobile Phones in High Schools Starting September 1

The French government approved a ban on mobile-phone use in lycées (students 15-18) that is slated to take effect on September 1. Schools must revise internal regulations, a process that unions say cannot be completed “from scratch” by that date. “It’s impossible to put this in place from scratch from 1 September,” — Jérôme Fournier, the national secretary of the SE-Unsa trade union

The Guardian

France already prohibits phones in primary schools and collèges (ages 11-15). The high-school measure follows President Emmanuel Macron’s broader agenda to curb screen time, including a proposed ban on social-media platforms for users under 15. That law was struck down by the Constitutional Council for being overly broad and for raising privacy concerns about mandatory age-verification. Legal scholar Valère Ndior noted that reconciling European and French constitutional requirements will be “a challenge to rewrite.” (Attributed claim)

The Guardian

“Schools will need to change their internal regulations and that requires a full consultation process and a vote, and for high school students to be consulted. So we need time for everyone to meet and work on this.” — Jérôme Fournier, the national secretary of the SE-Unsa trade union He highlighted practical hurdles: many schools rely on smartphone apps for timetables, cafeteria access, and library loans, and some apprentices aged 20 still need phones for work. Determining whether the ban should cover corridors, playgrounds, or allow exceptions remains a key issue, and officials fear students might leave campus to use phones, raising security and road-safety risks.

The Guardian

Macron’s office affirmed that the president remains committed to restricting under-15s from social-media platforms and is preparing a revised draft of the law. The administration has not indicated any intention to abandon the high-school phone ban despite the logistical challenges voiced by unions. Legal experts anticipate further scrutiny from the Constitutional Council as the government seeks a version that satisfies both European Union directives and French constitutional standards.

The Guardian