Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico – Starting November 3, students in elementary and middle schools across Mexico will have to put their cell phones away for the entire school day. The national agreement, announced Monday by the Ministry of Public Education (SEP), places a blanket restriction on screens during both class time and recess.
While students are still permitted to carry phones in their backpacks for safety on the way to and from school, the devices must stay tucked out of sight once the school day starts, barring explicit emergency situations. High schools will have flexibility to establish their own rules tailored to educational needs, and universities will determine independent guidelines to encourage smart digital habits.
The official guidelines was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on Tuesday, launching a transition period filled with town halls for parents and teachers before full implementation in November.
This decision follows months of regional forums, expert panels, and widespread consultation with educators regarding the impact of constant screen time and social media on young minds. A massive national survey involving over half a million teachers revealed that 81% felt immediate action was necessary to address phone distractions in classrooms.
Until now, regulations were left up to individual campuses, leading to a patchwork of policies across the country. By formalizing this national strategy, Mexico aligns itself with a rapidly growing global trend. According to UNESCO, nearly 58% of education systems worldwide now restrict mobile devices in schools – a sharp increase from just 24% three years ago.
The effort focuses on restoring student creativity, encouraging face-to-face interaction during breaks, and protecting younger age groups from the documented mental health risks associated with excessive social media use. Rather than cutting off technology completely, the policy aims to draw a clear boundary between helpful educational tools and constant digital distraction.
“The goal is to recover creativity and avoid this indiscriminate use of screens, which, particularly linked to social media, can have very negative impacts,” President Claudia Sheinbaum said.
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