Mexico school cellphone restriction SEP rules by education level, Digi Mart USA News (Mexico): A regulation from the Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP), Mexico’s Ministry of Public Education, restricting the use of cellphones and other personal digital devices during school hours took effect on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The rule applies to basic education schools across the country.
The measure covers public and private schools offering early childhood education, preschool, primary and secondary education. According to the guidelines, the goal is to reduce distractions, improve student concentration and strengthen coexistence within schools.
Under the guidelines, students in basic education may not use their phones during classes or recess periods. However, the rule includes exceptions.
Devices may be used when there is a pedagogical purpose and the teacher authorizes it as part of educational activities.
Phones will also be permitted in emergencies, for health, disability, accessibility or inclusion reasons, and in extraordinary needs of the school community.
For high schools and preparatory institutions, each institution will establish its own rules through agreements with its educational community, so conditions of use may vary between campuses.
For universities, the SEP will promote, in coordination with the National Association of Universities and Institutions of Higher Education (ANUIES), the critical and responsible use of technology, including topics such as artificial intelligence and how algorithms work.
The regulation was approved by the education authorities of all 32 federal entities. The SEP says it seeks to recover in-person coexistence spaces and prevent excessive device use from affecting learning and relationships among students.
The rule is not a general ban on students bringing phones to school. Instead, it restricts their use during the school day, with specific exceptions.
