Mexico to restrict phones in basic schools from November 3

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  Starting November 3, schools in Mexico serving students from early education through secondary school must restrict students’ use of mobile phones throughout the school day, including breaks.

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  The rule applies to public and private schools, with exceptions for planned educational activities, emergencies, and health, disability, accessibility, and inclusion needs.

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  UNAM researchers Janneth Trejo Quintana and Sebastián Plá Pérez said the restriction could help students concentrate, but removing phones alone will not guarantee better learning.

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  Trejo said there is not enough empirical evidence in Mexico to determine whether restricting phones directly improves learning, and called for studies to assess the policy’s effects.

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  A national education-sector consultation found that 79.7% of participants reported difficulty maintaining students’ attention and 78.1% linked the problem to digital devices, but those figures reflect perceptions rather than proof of cause.

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  For high schools, each educational community will set its own conditions for phone use; researchers also advised schools to explain the rules and avoid relying mainly on punishment.

Who

Students in Mexico’s early education, preschool, primary and secondary schools; high schools will set their own rules.

What

A restriction on students’ mobile phone use during the school day, including breaks.

When

From November 3, 2026.

Where

Public and private schools in Mexico.

Why

To reduce distractions and improve school coexistence; the education authorities cited concerns about students’ attention.

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