“Turn off the screen and turn your imagination on!”

With this message, Mexico’s Education Ministry (SEP) announced that, starting Tuesday, the use of cell phones and electronic tablets in public and private schools across the country will be restricted. 

The announcement follows a Sept. 18 decision by the National Council of Educational Authorities (Conaedu) to regulate the use of phones and tablets in schools.  

Speaking at a Conaedu meeting on Oct. 26, Education Minister Mario Delgado Carrillo said that the move aims to boost student focus, strengthen social interaction at school and promote the responsible use of technology. 

“We want to see a return to socializing in the schoolyards, conversations in the hallways and the focus and friendships that flourish in the classroom,” Delgado said. “On Nov. 3, we’re going phone-free in schools.” 

The new guidelines restrict mobile device use during classes and recess at primary and secondary schools. At the upper secondary, or high school, level, each institution will establish its own rules through agreements with its educational community and according to the students’ specific needs and context. 

Mexico bans cell phone use in grade schools starting in October: Monday’s mañanera recapped

The new guidelines resulted from a research and consultation process that involved experts and other members of the education community.  

Specialists presented an overview of the international landscape, the addictive nature of certain algorithms and their effects. Regional and university-level forums were also held, involving parents and educators from across the country.

According to Delgado, 81% of educators surveyed (565,000) were in favor of there being “guidelines and rules to guarantee the safe use [of devices] for educational purposes.”

The matter was then brought before the Conaedu, where education officials from all 32 entities in Mexico agreed to implement these measures. 

Mexico News Daily