Macron has been pushing for French children to spend less time in front of screens, which the government fears is arresting their development.
Visiting a school in the southern town of Mende, the French president defended his push to ban phones in high schools (lycées) as the measure came into force on the first day of the new school year on Tuesday, arguing they were a distraction and an obstacle to learning.
"Inside the school grounds it's not good to have your phone," he said. "It's not compatible with paying attention in classes."
Macron implied he practiced what he preached.
"When I have meetings, for example at the Elysée now, I ask people to hand in their mobile phones," he said. "Otherwise, even at the Elysée, you have meetings with people and they're all on their phones."
