Beginning Tuesday, November 3, 2026, millions of primary and secondary school students across Mexico will face strict new limitations on personal electronics under a federal directive issued by the Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP).
The initiative, branded as “¡Apaga la pantalla y enciende tu imaginación!”, arrives with backing from President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo and educational authorities across all 32 federal entities. SEP Mario Delgado Carrillo explained that the policy aims to curb classroom distractions, boost student focus, and revive social interactions in schoolyards and hallways.
Tiered Rules Across Educational Levels
While basic education faces blanket restrictions during the school day, the regulations shift depending on the academic tier. Primary and secondary students must keep their devices put away during instruction and breaks, though the federal framework allows for pedagogically planned exceptions authorized by teachers.
In contrast, preparatoria and bachillerato campuses retain local autonomy. At the university level, the SEP is coordinating with the Asociación Nacional de Universidades e Instituciones de Educación Superior (ANUIES) to foster critical digital literacy rather than enforcing outright prohibitions.
In Campeche, state education head Candelario Jesús Pacheco Pacheco announced a total restriction for basic education schools starting the next week, clarifying that smartwatches, iPads, and linked laptops fall under the ban alongside standard smartphones.
Legislative Backing and Implementation Hurdles
The federal push has also gained traction in state legislatures. In Baja California, the state congress unanimously backed an exhortation urging Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda and education secretary Irma Martínez to incorporate the local legislative committee into the rollout, ensuring institutional and budgetary support, according to Uniradio Informa.
Yet, enforcing the mandate on the ground presents friction. Educators at some secondary institutions warn the policy risks turning teachers into reluctant device wardens. Some school directors report resistance from parents who object to restricting access, while others question the logic of barring phones entirely while simultaneously permitting them for approved classroom tasks.
Individual school communities will ultimately determine how the guidelines function day-to-day.
Background and Policy Rollout Details
The federal guidelines were published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación (DOF) on September 22, 2026. In Baja California, the legislative push was introduced by deputy Jesús Daniel Razo Córdova, who noted the framework protects children’s rights and mental health while aligning with a national public policy.
School administrators across various regions have highlighted additional operational pressures facing campuses. Directors noted that parents frequently send sick children to school because working guardians lack alternative childcare options, with one secondary director lamenting that pues es que tampoco somos guardería, y eso los papás, las mamás no lo entienden
. Reflecting on generational shifts, a 60-year-old director observed that muchísimas generations acudimos a las escuelas y ni siquiera nos imaginábamos que un día iban a existir teléfonos móviles que lo ibas a poder llevar en el bolsillo y además con acceso a internet, no sabíamos qué era eso, y todos sobrevivimos a esa época, esas limitaciones
. Meanwhile, some younger instructors defend device usage in specific lessons, arguing that así los chicos pueden ver imágenes, buscar información
.
