A bane to youngsters who couldn't help getting their hands on their devices: France has recently announced a new law passed through the Parliament this week banning the use of smartphones and tablets in all schools, the report from CNN said.
The new law, spearheaded by French President Emmanuel Macron, came ahead of this year's academic period which begins this September.
The ban covering all internet-linked devices will apply to all pupils in France between the ages 3 and 15. Meanwhile, the new rule is optional for French high schools and those in the higher academic levels to implement.
Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer pointed out in a statement given to French TV channel, BFMTV, that the so-called "screen addiction" has already become a phenomenon affecting children and adolescents.
For Blanquer, the role of the government, through its education programs, is to protect these young individuals from the effects of "bad mobile phone use."
Students have now become dependent on their mobile devices as an integral part of their lifestyle. However, once the phone law takes effect, they may be forced to leave them at home. Otherwise, the devices should be turned off once inside the classroom or during school hours.
Educational institutions may allow students to open their handsets but only for "pedagogical use" and for extra-curricular activities. Physically disabled pupils are also given exceptions to the rule as they may use their devices as deemed fit for their intended purposes.
President Macron, in a statement released via Twitter, said that the ban on smartphones and tablet devices in schools has been "definitely adopted by the National Assembly" - a promise that the French premier has fulfilled.
During his presidential campaign, one of Macron's advocacies is to reinforce the similar law passed way back in 2010. With him in the seat, the final approval to the bill was made on Monday with the majority of the votes coming from the members of Macron's centrist La République en Marche! (LREM) party.
As expected, the law draws flak, mainly from the opposition, who branded it as just another "publicity stunt" by the Macron administration.
Classrooms and schools aren't the only places that phones will be prohibited. Earlier this year, legislators passed a law that forbids the use of smartphones in the car.
While it is obvious that texting/calling makes driving more difficult, the French's version of the law prohibits even when the person is not driving. Apparently, its goal is to discourage those people who have the tendency to pull over to use their phones, meanwhile, causing traffic blockades.
