Emmanuel Macron’s bill about a ban of mobile phones in French schools was backed by members of the National Assembly. Teachers often complain of pupils sending text messages and chatting on social media during class time, BBC reports.
French politicians have approved Macron’s bill, but debates about banning the smartphones in the schools are getting hot, some teachers chafe at calls for them to put away their phones during school hours as well, noting they are the main source of alerts in case of emergencies.
The bill was the result of 2017 campaign promise made by President Emmanuel Macron. But Richard Ferrand, head of Macron’s Republic on the Move party in parliament, said the law would be accompanied by efforts to explain the importance of limiting phone use to pupils. hHe insists that the ban of phones in a playground can break the link of camaraderie and sharing.
Education minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said the measures were “a law for the 21st Century, a law for addressing the digital revolution”.
“Being open to technologies of the future doesn’t mean we have to accept all their uses,”
he told MPs.
A late amendment to the bill on Thursday would mean teachers also having to put away their phones during school hours. The members of National Assembly believe that the law will reduce disruption to lessons, help prevent bullying and improve “camaraderie” among the young generation.
