Beginning September 2025, smartphones, as well as other personal use electronic objects, such as smart watches and tablets, are going to be banned in classrooms all over France for students of primary schools (ages 3 to 10) and collèges (ages 10-14).

This comes as an extension of the “Portable en Pause” (Mobile Phone on Pause) program that was previously tested with 32 000 students participating in testing the system of giving up their phones during school hours by using collective boxes, individual packets or lockers. That program has been shown to have positive effects on the climate in schools, the students’ concentration levels and their general well-being. A decrease in reports of cyberbullying in the participating institutions has also been observed.

The presence of smartphones in educational institutions for children has been linked to multiple negative outcomes. They can diminish the students’ capacity to listen and concentrate, inhibiting teaching processes. They can also be linked to extorsion and theft between classmates. Finally, they can serve as vectors of cyberbullying and the distribution of various disturbing images, such as pornography or violence through access to the Internet. Overall, all of this lowers the quality of life for the collective, which is necessary for the students’ growth and development.

The program will be implemented in all establishments in France. The schools and educators, as well as parents will be able to collectively choose the modalities of the phone ban and those will be inscribed in the institution’s regulations.

For students of lycées (ages 15 to 18), a program that promotes discussion of the role of the smartphone and other connected objects in daily life will be implemented, within the system of school democratic organisations.

In addition to that, another change has been made to promote digital well-being and the balance between school life and personal life. The updates coming from les espaces numériques de travail (ENT, Digital Work Spaces) and school life software will be suspended in the hours between 8 pm to 7 am during the work week and from 8 pm on Friday until 7 am on Monday.

The law forbidding the usage of smartphones at school has several exceptions. Notably, students with handicaps or other health issues will be able to use specialised technologies, and emergency situations which will allow the student to use their phone.

In the case of non-compliance with the newly implemented rule, a tailored individual response is foreseen by the legislation, that has to be codified by the internal regulations of the educational institution. It can take the form of a scholarly punishment such as additional homework or detention, the confiscation of the student’s device, or, under the most serious circumstances, a disciplinary sanction that is authorised by the Code of Education.

If a student needs to contact their legal representatives, for example in the time of a medical emergency or a foreseen exit from the establishment, they may do so through systems put in place by the school or using their phone in places authorised by the interior regulations.

Additionally, the French law permits the pedagogical usage of mobile phones, under the conditions that are explicitly authorised by interior regulations, supervised by a member of the educational community. The usage of phones by the adults at any educational institution is permitted, however, it must be done within reason, with necessary proof given to the governing bodies of the institution.

This controversial law aims to improve the quality of school life and relationships. What do you think? Should smartphones and other devices be banned in educational institutions? Let us know in the comments! 💬