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The Government of Mexico announced this Monday a national agreement to restrict the use of cell phones and other screens in the country's primary and secondary schools starting next November 3, after obtaining unanimous support from the educational authorities of the 32 states.
"The summary is that in primary and secondary (schools) they cannot be used," affirmed the Secretary of Public Education, Mario Delgado, during President Claudia Sheinbaum's morning press conference.
The measure establishes that students may bring their cell phones to educational institutions, but must keep them stored throughout the entire school day, including recess, except for emergencies or particular circumstances.
"They can keep it stored in their backpack, but cell phones cannot be used in class or during recess," the president explained.
For the upper secondary level, each school will have to agree on the necessary restrictions to ensure responsible use for pedagogical purposes, while universities may establish their own policies to promote responsible digital citizenship.
The agreement will be published this Tuesday in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) and will take effect on November 3, following a period in which assemblies with teachers and families will be held to explain the new provisions.
Delgado noted that the decision was made after months of consultations, regional forums, and discussions with specialists regarding the effects of excessive screen and social media use on minors.
"81% said, 'Yes, we have to do something.' Because the intrusion of screens and cell phones in the classroom has had an impact that is not necessarily favorable," the official stated regarding a consultation in which, according to the Government, more than half a million teachers participated.
Until now, Mexico did not have specific national regulations regarding the use of cell phones within educational centers, and the rules depended on each school, according to the country profile prepared by UNESCO.
The Mexican decision joins an international trend to limit these devices in classrooms.
UNESCO currently counts 114 educational systems with national bans on mobile phones in schools, equivalent to 58% of countries, compared to the 24% recorded in 2023.
The organization has warned that technology can support learning, but it recommends using smartphones in the classroom only when they clearly contribute to educational goals.
"The goal is to recover creativity and avoid this indiscriminate use of screens, which, particularly when linked to social media, can have very negative impacts," Sheinbaum maintained.
[Publicidad]