Ministry of National Education: Ban on mobile phones in primary and secondary schools and a digital break

The "Mobile Phones on Hold" policy will be implemented nationwide starting in the 2025 school year. Each middle school will define its own method for restricting the use of phones (or any connected device), in consultation with members of the educational community, including local authorities and parents.

For Responsible Digital Use in Elementary, Middle, and High Schools

Digital tools are playing an increasingly important role in the daily lives of students and families. As educational resources, they can be a valuable contribution to learning and the acquisition of knowledge and skills. Their responsible use contributes to student development and civic education.

Inappropriate use and prolonged screen time can have harmful effects, particularly on younger students, impacting their health, concentration, critical thinking skills, and socialization.

It is with this in mind that measures for responsible digital use in schools are being implemented. It is based on four pillars:

training students in the responsible use of digital tools,

suspending updates in digital workspaces (ENT) and school life software in the evenings and at the end of the week,

the widespread implementation of the "Mobile Phone on Break" system,

support for families.

Generalization of "Mobile Phones on Hold"

During the 2024-2025 school year, more than 32,000 middle school students participated in a mobile phone ban, using a variety of locally chosen methods – communal boxes, individual pouches, lockers. This pilot program had positive effects on the school climate, student concentration, and overall well-being in the participating schools. A decrease in reports of cyberbullying and incidents related to social media was also observed.

The "Mobile Phones on Hold" program will be implemented nationwide starting in the 2025 school year. Each middle school will define its preferred method for banning phones (or any connected device) in consultation with members of the school community, including local authorities and parents. This system, adapted to the specific needs of each school, will be included in the school's internal regulations.

In high schools, discussions will be held with students and the school community regarding digital technology, particularly the role of cell phones and connected devices. These discussions will be developed within the school's democratic structures and are intended to inform the school's strategic plan.

Suspending Updates in Digital Workspaces (ENTs) and Student Life Software

To mitigate the detrimental effects of information received at all hours (grades, assignments, etc.), their distribution will be suspended by default in the ENTs and student life software in the evenings (from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.) and at the end of the week (from Friday 8 p.m. to Monday 7 a.m.). These time slots may be adjusted by school principals if necessary.

Banning Cell Phones to Improve the School Climate and Learning

The Legal Framework

The use of mobile phones can seriously impair the listening and concentration skills necessary for learning activities. Their use is the source of a significant amount of incivility and disruption within schools. Mobile phones can incite covetousness, extortion, and theft among classmates. Furthermore, their use on school grounds diminishes the quality of community life, which is essential for students' development. Finally, mobile phones are sometimes vectors of cyberbullying and facilitate access to violent images, particularly pornography, for young people via the internet.

For all these reasons, the use of mobile phones and any other electronic communication devices is prohibited on school and college premises.

Article L. 511-5 of the Education Code establishes the principle of prohibiting the use of mobile phones and any other electronic communication devices (tablets or smartwatches, for example) in schools and colleges. It also specifies that this ban can be extended to high schools, subject to amendments to their internal regulations. It provides for the possibility of confiscating the device, provided the procedures are clearly defined in the internal regulations.

It is up to each school to determine practical arrangements to ensure compliance with the law. Implementing a locker system allowing students to leave their phones during the day and retrieve them before leaving school is a promising approach.

The law provides for several exceptions:

• Students with disabilities or debilitating health conditions retain the right to use medical devices associated with communication equipment (for example, devices that allow diabetic children to manage their blood sugar levels).

  
  

  Regarding conditional prohibitions, the law allows for the stipulation of circumstances, particularly educational uses, and locations in which the school rules expressly authorize the use of mobile phones by students. These are cumulative conditions; the school rules must specify both the circumstances and the locations.

  
  

  Amendment of School Rules

  
  

  In primary schools, the principal amends the school rules and submits them to a vote by the school council.

  
  

  In middle schools, the school rules fall under the sole jurisdiction of the board of directors after prior review by the standing committee.

  
  

  They now include:

  
  

  the prohibition of mobile phones on school or institution premises, as stipulated by the law of August 3, 2018;

  
  

  The charter concerning the use of information and communication technologies;

  
  

  Emergency situations that may lead a student to ask an adult to use their mobile phone in a location defined by the school rules. For boarding schools, specific locations and times for use will be explicitly mentioned.

  
  

  The Student Code of Conduct, which summarizes the main points of the school rules in a simplified form, must also incorporate these new rules.

  
  

  Responses for rule violations

  
  

  An appropriate, individualized, and graduated response must be given to any use of a mobile phone within the school or institution. The procedures are defined in the school rules.

  
  
  
  

  This response may take the form of a school punishment (additional homework, detention, etc.), confiscation of the device, now authorized by law, or, in the most serious cases, a disciplinary sanction as provided for in Article R. 511-13 of the Education Code.

Answers to your questions about cell phone use regulations

Are students allowed to have a cell phone on them?

The regulations prohibit the use of cell phones but do not prevent students from possessing them if they are switched off and stored properly. Students may be offered the option of storing their devices in individual lockers when the school layout allows, and in agreement with the relevant authorities.

Is only cell phone use prohibited on school and college premises?

The prohibition stipulated in Article 511-5 of the Education Code applies to all electronic communication devices. This includes all connected devices: phones of all generations, smartwatches, tablets, etc.

What should be done if a student urgently needs to contact their family?

A student may need to contact one of their legal guardians during school hours, particularly in the event of a medical emergency or an early departure from school. It is then the responsibility of the principal or headteacher to remind students and their parents of the contact procedures in case of emergency and, if necessary, to include in the school rules the procedures and locations where students can make these calls using their mobile phones.

How can parents be reassured during a school trip?

Several methods of informing parents can be implemented: information on the school notice board, a voicemail service for parents to leave messages, a dedicated page on the school website, and a blog. The school rules may, if necessary, include guidelines for students' use of mobile phones.

Is it possible to ban the use of mobile phones on school and college premises?

Since the ban is provided for by law, it applies to all schools as soon as it is enacted. Schools and colleges must therefore bring their internal regulations into compliance as quickly as possible.

Is the use of mobile phones prohibited in boarding schools?

The use of mobile phones in boarding schools is prohibited by law, unless otherwise stated in the school's internal regulations.

What educational uses can be made of mobile phones?

The law now allows the educational use of mobile phones provided it is expressly authorized by the school's internal regulations. This use must be supervised by a member of the school community. A guide developed by the Digital Education Directorate provides all the necessary details on educational projects based on the AVEC (Bring Your Own Device) pilot program.

Can adults use their mobile phones on school and college premises?

The use of mobile phones in schools and colleges is prohibited only for students. However, school administrators and teaching staff must use their communication devices responsibly to allow students to fully understand and comply with the rule.

Is the use of mobile phones permitted during educational activities outside of school and college premises?

This regulation applies to all educational activities, even those taking place outside of school grounds. This includes activities held in rooms reserved for physical education and sports, cultural outings, school trips, etc.

What are the consequences of unauthorized mobile phone use?

An appropriate response must be given to any student who uses their mobile phone on school premises despite the prohibition. This response, which the law stipulates can include confiscation of the device, must be specified in the school's internal regulations. In middle schools, confiscation can take the form of a school punishment (extra homework, detention, etc.) and, in the most serious cases, may be accompanied by a disciplinary sanction as stipulated in Article R. 511-13 of the Education Code.

How long can a mobile phone be confiscated?

The confiscation of a student's mobile phone must not continue beyond the end of the school day. Any confiscated phone must be returned either to the student or to one of their legal guardians.