Mexico is moving to keep cellphones out of public school classrooms, and parents appear to be largely on board with the idea. President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that the new policy will take effect on November 3, applying to schools that cover what Mexico calls “educación básica”—roughly the equivalent of elementary through middle school in the US system.
Under the rules, students will still be allowed to bring their phones and other devices to campus, but they won’t be permitted to use them during the school day except in emergencies. Officials say the goal is simple: cut down on classroom distractions and help students focus on learning rather than on their screens.
The announcement comes amid a broader global debate over whether phones belong in schools at all, with several countries and US states adopting similar restrictions in recent years over concerns about attention spans, bullying, and mental health. In interviews, Mexican parents expressed support for the measure, arguing that limiting phone access could improve academic performance and reduce social friction among students during school hours.
Details are still emerging about how the ban will be enforced day to day and what emergency exceptions will look like in practice. Want the full story straight from the source? Check out the original report on Telemundo.
Source: Padres apoyan prohibición del uso de celular en las escuelas públicas de México (telemundo.com).
Image: AFS-USA Intercultural Programs, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).