Mexico SEP cell phone restrictions in schools, Digi Mart USA News (Mexico City, Mexico): Guidelines issued by Mexico’s Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP) to regulate the use of cell phones and other personal digital devices in public and private schools across Mexico took effect on Tuesday, November 3, according to a report by Quintana Roo Hoy.
Under the measure, students in basic education, from primary through secondary school, must keep their devices stored throughout the school day, during both class periods and recess. The rule does not prohibit students from bringing phones to campus, but it restricts their use for personal activities such as checking social media, playing games, or sending messages.
Phone use may be authorized when it is part of a previously scheduled educational activity under teacher supervision. Exceptions are also provided for personal emergencies, health needs, disability, accessibility and inclusion, and other particular circumstances requiring the use of these devices.
In upper secondary education, which includes preparatory schools and bachilleratos, there is no uniform ban. Each institution must establish its own rules through agreements with students, teachers, and parents, based on the characteristics of its school community.
Measures may include defining times and spaces for phone use, establishing places to store devices, or limiting use throughout the school day.
For universities and other higher education institutions, the SEP proposes promoting digital citizenship and responsible technology use, with provisions that take into account each institution’s autonomy and characteristics.
According to the report, the agreement aims to reduce classroom distractions, improve concentration, and restore spaces for interaction among students. The federal agency clarified that the purpose is not to keep younger generations away from technology, but to promote its safe, responsible, and educational use.
The guidelines were established through Agreement No. 09/09/26, published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación on September 22, 2026, and have the backing of education authorities in all 32 states of the country.
