Monaco school rolls out full-day phone ban for pupils
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
The François d'Assise - Nicolas Barré college in Monaco has introduced locked pouches to keep pupils' phones sealed away for the entire school day.
From the start of the new term, students arriving at the Collège François d'Assise - Nicolas Barré have handed over their mobile phones to be sealed inside lockable pouches for the duration of the school day. The Catholic secondary school is among the first establishments in the Principality to implement a structured "No Phone" policy, going beyond the general restrictions that already apply in French and Monégasque schools.
The pouch system means phones are present on school grounds - satisfying parents who want their children reachable during commutes - but are completely inaccessible during lessons, breaks and lunch. Pupils collect their unsealed devices only when they leave at the end of the day. One new Year 7 student, Clara, put the logic plainly on her first day: "At school, you don't need a phone."
The move reflects a broader debate playing out across France and Monaco about screen time and concentration among younger pupils. For families in the Principality whose children attend FANB, the practical change begins immediately, with no opt-out available during the school day.