Tens of thousands of pupils across France are going through a slightly different back-to-school term this autumn – being deprived of their mobile phones in a trial ban on their use.
At some 200 "colleges" – the middle schools French children attend between the ages of 11 and 15 – a scheme is being trialled to ban the use of mobile phones during the entire school day.
The trial of the "digital pause" – which encompasses more than 50,000 pupils – is being implemented ahead of a possible plan to enforce it nationwide from 2025.
Right now, pupils in French middle schools are obliged turn off their phones.
This latest experiment takes things a step further, requiring children to hand in their phones upon arrival.
Taking to social media site X this Wednesday, France's minister for education posted: "When you arrive at school, just put your phone down: that's the new rule for the start of the new school year. And it's being tested in over 200 schools.
"We're introducing a real digital break, for the well-being of our pupils. That's what schools are all about!"
'Arrested development'
The project is part of a move by President Emmanuel Macron for children to spend less time in front of screens, which the government fears is arresting their development.
The use of "a mobile phone or any other electronic communications terminal equipment" has been banned in nurseries, elementary schools and middle schools in France since 2018.
In high schools – which French children attend between the ages of 15 and 18 – internal regulations may prohibit the use of a mobile phone by pupils in "all or part of the premises".
Bruno Bobkiewicz, general secretary of SNPDEN-Unsa – France's top union of school principals – said the 2018 law had been enforced "pretty well overall".
"The use of mobile phones in middle schools is very low today", he said, adding that in case of a problem "we have the means to act".
Improving 'school climate'
The experiment comes after Macron said in January he wanted to "regulate the use of screens among young children."
According to a report submitted to Macron, children under 11 should not be allowed to use phones, while access to social networks should be limited for pupils under 15.
The French education ministry hopes that the mobile-free environment will improve "school climate" and reduce instances of violence, including online harassment and dissemination of violent images.
The ministry also wants to improve student performance because the use of mobile phones harms "the ability to concentrate" and "the acquisition of knowledge".
The experiment also aims to "raise pupils' awareness of the rational use of digital tools".
'Complicated to implement'
According to the education ministry, "it is up to each establishment to determine practical arrangements", with the possibility of setting up a locker system.
Pupils will have to hand in their phones on arrival, putting them in boxes or lockers.
They will then collect them at the end of the school day.
The ban also extends to extracurricular activities and school trips.
However, the enforcement of the measure across all schools in France from January 2025 could be expensive.
According to local authorities, the roll-out of the ban could cost "nearly €130 million" for the 6,980 middle schools across France.
For the leading middle and high school teachers' union Snes-FSU, the ban raises too many questions about how will things work.
Sceptics believe extra staff will be needed to manage arrivals, drops-off and departures – as well as the collection of mobile phones.
Bobkiewicz of SNPDEN-Unsa principal's union underlined he did not want to rummage through pupils' bags to look for their phones, adding: "It's going to be complicated to implement".
