Education Minister Valérie Glatigny has decided to ban the recreational use of mobile phones and other connected devices by pupils in nursery, primary and secondary schools of the French Community, across all networks, from the 2025-2026 school year.
The aim is to improve pupils' concentration and social interactions: less mobile phone means more friends in the playground! The measure is fully in line with the recommendations of the WHO and Unesco, which call for banning these devices up to the age of 18 because of their negative impact on pupils' concentration. "According to Unesco, a single notification can distract a pupil's attention for almost 20 minutes!" explains the liberal minister.
This ban applies to pupils in nursery, primary and secondary education, both mainstream and special needs, up to the final year of secondary school. Although pupils may still keep their phones, these must remain switched off and put away from the moment they arrive at school until the end of school or extracurricular activities. Schools may, however, allow supervised use of the phone for educational purposes, for example to learn how to search for information using a smartphone.
Valérie Glatigny highlights the many benefits of this ban: "better concentration, a return to genuine social interactions, a reduction in cyberbullying and, finally, the prevention of sedentary behaviour and sleep disorders, as well as greater fairness among pupils, since not everyone can afford the latest smartphone". Teaching staff will also be encouraged to make sensible use of their devices.
Schools retain freedom in implementing this ban, with the possibility of exemptions for pupils with a disability or health condition requiring the use of a mobile phone. Furthermore, it will of course always remain possible for parents to contact their child by phone when leaving school, for example to arrange a meeting point.
Schools are invited to adapt their internal regulations by 1 January 2025 so that these new rules can be fully applied from the start of the 2025-2026 school year. This ban will be accompanied by education on the responsible use of digital tools.