Mexican Senate endorses law reform to prohibit the use of cell phones and devices in schools

Published at: 13/10/2026 07:16 PM

In Mexico, the United Committees on Education and Legislative Studies of the Senate approved the reform that prohibits cell phones and other smart devices in basic education schools, that is, from preschool to high school, both public and private.

With 27 votes in favor of all senators present in the hybrid session, these commissions confirmed that, in the case of high school campuses, school authorities must hold meetings to decide when their use will be allowed, while, at the university level, the responsible use of these devices in the classroom will be promoted.

The amendment to Article 84 of the General Education Law establishes that in order to guarantee the responsible and safe use of personal digital devices, as well as learning technologies in public and private schools of the National Education System (...) educational authorities, in their respective fields of competence and with full respect for educational federalism, university, administrative and academic autonomy, must establish minimum provisions”.

It details that, at the initial, preschool, primary and secondary levels of education, the restriction on the use of cell phones, smart and personal electronic devices will be imposed throughout the school day, so that they can only be used for previously programmed educational purposes based on pedagogical objectives.

During the presentation of the project, the president of the Education Commission, Aníbal Ostoa, argued that technology should not be considered an adversary of teaching, as long as it is at the service of learning and does not compete with the attention of students.

He noted that the reform seeks to give legal support to the measures promoted by the Ministry of Public Education (SEP).

Mazo News Team