Mexico Education Secretary Says 81% of Teachers Support Regulating Mobile Phones in Schools

A survey of more than 565,000 teachers in Mexico found strong support for rules governing mobile phones and other electronic devices in schools. Education Secretary Mario Delgado said 81% of respondents favored guidelines designed to ensure that technology is used safely and for educational purposes.

The questionnaire covered mobile phones, tablets and smartwatches. Delgado said almost 40% of teachers detected students bringing mobile phones, while 24% reported the use of smartwatches in school settings, including classrooms, recess and the start or end of the school day.

Teachers also described how devices affect school life. Forty-eight percent said phones make it harder to maintain attention, while 38% said they interrupt school activities. Another 34% said students abandon social interaction because they are using their phones. Some 38.7% reported that conflicts originating on social media later move into the classroom or school.

“

The diagnosis shows that 81% support guidelines and rules to guarantee safe use for educational purposes.

More than half of the teachers, 51%, proposed protocols for handling risky situations. Delgado said agreements with parents should form part of the response, giving families a role in managing children’s access to technology.

President Claudia Sheinbaum supported the idea of limits, warning about the effects of excessive phone and social media use among children and young people. She said the proposed regulation should prevent children from spending the entire day in front of screens and encourage reading, play and socialization, including traditional games.

“

If one spends all day absorbed in the phone, then when do they play with their friends? When do they read?