French Schools Test Complete Mobile Phone Ban for Middle Schoolers

The initiative aims to enhance academic performance and curb bullying but faces criticism over feasibility and costs.

Over 50,000 students in 180 middle schools are participating in the 'digital pause' trial.
Students must hand over their phones at the start of the school day and retrieve them at the end.
The experiment is part of a broader effort to reduce screen time among children.
Unions and local authorities question the effectiveness and financial burden of the initiative.
A nationwide rollout is planned for January 2025, pending the trial's results.