France Extends School Phone Ban as Schools Face Implementation Challenges

(MENAFN) French high school students returned to classrooms this week under tighter restrictions on mobile phone use, with devices now prohibited throughout the school day.
The measure expands France’s existing phone restrictions in middle and high schools to include students generally between the ages of 15 and 18. The new rules came into effect on Sept. 1, marking the beginning of the 2026-27 academic year.
The policy forms part of a wider government initiative aimed at limiting young people’s exposure to screens and social media. Although the national rule establishes a clear restriction, schools face different practical challenges when putting it into effect.
Individual schools have been given flexibility over how phones are collected or stored, the circumstances in which students may use them and the consequences for breaking the rules. While some institutions have introduced lockers and dedicated phone pouches, others are asking students to turn off their devices and leave them inside their school bags.
At the High school des Metiers Nicolas Louis Vauquelin in Paris, principal Carole Zerbib said schools must find practical ways to incorporate the new national requirement into their everyday routines.
She noted that the legislation was approved only days before classes resumed, leaving schools with limited time to prepare procedures and determine how the restrictions would operate.
A Difficult Measure to Implement
One of the main concerns for schools is deciding what should happen to students’ phones once they arrive on campus.
At Vauquelin, students are instructed to switch off their phones and keep them inside their bags. The school is largely depending on students to follow the requirement voluntarily and take responsibility for their devices.
However, enforcing the rule can create additional administrative duties. Phones confiscated after violations may need to be transferred to school officials, securely stored and documented until they are returned to their owners.
“There is a risk of theft, loss or damage,” Zerbib said, highlighting the potential difficulties and additional workload involved in managing confiscated devices.
Parents’ representatives have also raised concerns about differences in how schools will enforce the policy. They argue that institutions do not all have access to the same facilities, equipment or staffing levels, potentially resulting in inconsistent application of the rules.
At the same time, parents support allowing exemptions when phones are required for medical reasons, disabilities or particular educational needs.

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