France's parliament approved legislation in July to ban both social media access for children under 15 and mobile phone use in high schools. The decision came as part of a push by President Emmanuel Macron to reduce screen time, with medical experts expressing concerns around excess hindering childhood development. But the country's top court struck down the social media provision earlier this month, citing freedom of expression. The Constitutional Council did not, however, rule on a separate provision banning mobile phone use in high schools. Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said Monday that Macron had "decided to promulgate the law" containing the ban on phones despite the court striking down its flagship provision. "As a result, the ban on mobile phones in high schools can take effect from the start of the new school year, with a stable, consolidated and statutory legal framework," she said after a cabinet meeting. Read moreFrance's top court blocks Macron's social media ban for under-15s High school students regularly use their smartphones to check timetable changes, room assignments and other school information. Some teachers also rely on phones in class for research, exercises and document sharing. In its guidance, the ministry of education suggests exemptions from the ban for "educational use" or for purposes "necessary for the proper functioning of the school". France has already banned children from using mobile phones in "collège" – schools attended by children between the ages of 11 and 15 – as well as in primary schools. High schools were instructed in early July to prepare for the measure's implementation ahead of adoption by parliament later that month and enforcement will require them toto amend their internal regulations. But many schools may struggle to implement the measure in full from next month as they have had little time to prepare. Read moreNew timetables, longer holidays: How can French schools adapt to heatwaves? 'Not ready' François Resnais, national secretary of SNPDEN-Unsa (Le Syndicat national des personnels de direction de l'Éducation nationale), France's top union of school principals, criticised the timing as "bad". "Schools are not ready," Resnais told AFP. "Schools are starting the year with a rule that is not written into their internal regulations, except perhaps for those that tried to anticipate something, but that remains very limited."