French President: By next year, even high schools will be banned from phone use

This announcement represents an expansion of an existing measure that is already in force for smaller students, Politico writes.

Students of low and elementary school (colege) in France are already denied cell phones.

Speaking at an event in eastern France, Macron said the first phase of the ban had worked well “and expressed support for the expansion of politics in high schools (lycées), which are frequented by students aged 15 to 18.

New Law?
French President confirmed that Education Minister Edouard Geffray is already considering the idea. However, introducing a ban on high schools may require adoption of a new law. The National Assembly approved the actual ban in 2018, but this law specifically covers only preschoolers, gardens, and elementary and lower schools.

Although the Macron influence on domestic politics has waned since losing control of parliament in 2024, the president has tried to restore himself to the domestic stage in recent weeks. Through a series of public presentations, he has tried to show how he intends to face the challenges presented by social media and large internet platforms. /Periscope