Buenos Aires invests $16 million to create new play and social spaces in city schools

Buenos Aires is investing $16 million to transform underused spaces in 20 public schools into vibrant areas for sports and social interaction. The "Active Recess" initiative aims to enhance students' socio-emotional well-being by encouraging physical activity and direct engagement.

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Before, seventh graders brought their cell phones and it was a problem because they took them out during recess, took pictures, and some classmates got angry. Then they uploaded those photos to social media and fought a lot. Since they were banned, I see that they relate better. Parents, for their part, have supported this measure and collaborate by calling the school directly to find out if their children have arrived or to communicate with them.

Mercedes Miguel, the city's Minister of Education, emphasized the urgent need to protect children's socio-emotional health. She stated that when cell phones are removed from classrooms, students' focus improves, allowing them to develop their own ideas instead of just consuming external content. "The classroom must be a territory for learning, and the patio, a place for meeting. That's why sport is our great ally: there they move, play as a team, and connect face-to-face," Miguel explained.

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There is a compelling reality: when the cell phone stays out of the classroom, the brain recovers its capacity for deep focus, comprehension, and the creation of original ideas instead of just consuming others' content. The excessive use of devices can make us feel alone, even when surrounded by people, and we want them to recover real connections. It is an urgent necessity to protect the socio-emotional well-being of our children.

The Almirante Ramón González Fernández Primary School in the Belgrano neighborhood is one of the 20 selected schools. Here, a neglected space known as "el campito" (the little field) is being converted into a sports complex. Mónica Moreno, a seventh-grade teacher, noted that since cell phones were banned, students interact better. "Parents, for their part, have supported this measure and collaborate by calling the school directly to find out if their children have arrived or to communicate with them," she said.

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The classroom must be a territory for learning, and the patio, a place for meeting. That's why sport is our great ally: there they move, play as a team, and connect face-to-face.

This plan is part of a larger effort by the city's education ministry to prioritize movement, physical activity, and student interaction. The investment of $16 million targets areas in disuse across 1262 state-run schools, aiming to significantly improve the daily experience of students.

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It was important to have a place where they could practice different sports.