Mobile Phones to be Banned in Schools by 2025
The French government is moving towards a total ban on mobile phones in schools and colleges, with plans to implement this policy by the start of the 2025 school year. Alexandre Portier, the Minister Delegate for Educational Success, emphasized the urgency of this initiative, referring to it as a "national emergency" for the health of young people. Portier stated, "We are talking about the health of our young people; it is a mission on which we do not have the right to fail."
Digital Break Experiment
Since September, approximately 180 middle schools across France have been participating in an experiment known as the "digital break," which entails a complete prohibition of mobile phone use during school hours. Each school has the discretion to implement this policy in a manner that suits their environment, such as having students store their phones in designated boxes or lockers. Feedback from schools currently testing this ban has been positive, with reports that it fosters a more focused learning atmosphere.
Legislative Background and Future Plans
The push for a more comprehensive ban follows a law enacted in 2018, which already restricts mobile phone use in nursery, elementary, and middle schools. However, students are still permitted to keep their phones in their bags if turned off. Portier criticized the lack of political will over the past six years to fully implement this law, stating, "There is a huge task to be done to implement it. What I really want is for us to be relentless on the issue because I am making it a priority." The government aims to solidify this ban by the start of the 2025 school year, as part of a broader effort to enhance educational success in France.
