Mexico Classrooms Go Phone-Free Under New School Rules

Mexico has unveiled nationwide rules restricting cellphone use in schools for younger students from bell to bell, as concern grows over the ‌effects of screen time on children.

The measure, which takes effect on 3 November 2026, applies across the public education system and restricts cellphone and tablet use in primary and secondary schools.

It places Mexico among a growing number of countries trying to ⁠draw clearer boundaries around children’s access to cellphones and social media, as governments worldwide debate new limits on technology use in schools and online.

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that state education officials had reached a consensus on the measure. The policy was approved unanimously by the National Council of Education Authorities, representing all 32 Mexican states. It applies to public and private schools.

Phones are permitted in backpacks but cannot be used during class time or recess. The only exceptions are emergencies, documented health needs, or planned educational activities supervised by teachers.

High schools and universities are encouraged to regulate devices independently.

Sheinbaum said the goal is to “recover creativity and avoid the indiscriminate use of phones”.

Education Secretary Mario Delgado said the measure is about protecting mental health, improving learning, and restoring human contact in classrooms.

The data behind the decision is stark:

● 81% of surveyed teachers support the restriction.
● More than 70% of households back the regulation.
● More than 83% of parents are worried about their children’s screen time.
● Mexican students spend up to 7 hours a day in front of a screen.
● In one survey, 4 in 10 students said their classmates are distracted by devices in most or all classes.
● The PISA 2025 report found that almost half of the screen time students spend at school (2.7 hours) is for leisure, not learning.

Mexico is not alone. According to UNESCO, 114 education systems now have national bans on cell phones in schools, up from just 24% of countries in 2023. Brazil banned phones in classrooms and recess in January 2025. France, New Zealand, Peru, and others have implemented their own restrictions.

Source: Wild Wonders; Reuters (23 September 2026)