France will ban the use of mobile phones in secondary schools from Sept 1 as part of efforts to improve student focus and learning environments.
French Education Minister Édouard Geffray announced on Wednesday that the legislation will be published during the summer before taking effect at the start of the new school term.
“I consider this extremely important for our students,” Geffray told broadcaster Franceinfo, adding that implementation guidelines will soon be sent to school principals.
France is also considering a separate proposal to prohibit social media access for children under the age of 15. However, Geffray said the measure is still awaiting approval from the European Commission.
The move reflects a broader trend across Europe, where several countries are exploring or supporting tighter restrictions on smartphone and social media use among children and teenagers amid concerns over their impact on education, mental health and wellbeing.
