Guanajuato to ban cell phones in primary and secondary schools

Guanajuato will implement a ban on cell phone use in primary and secondary schools starting November 3. State Secretary of Education Luis Ignacio Sánchez Gómez announced the measure, which follows federal agreements and state law passed in May. To assist families with the change, the state will initiate a two-to-three-month transition period focused on awareness.

Sánchez Gómez cited concerns regarding student concentration and the addictive nature of mobile devices, noting that young people receive hundreds of notifications daily. The ban aims to improve learning outcomes and reduce educational gaps.

In response to the upcoming policy, the Movimiento Democrático Magisterial de Guanajuato has called on the Secretaría de Educación de Guanajuato to provide clear regulations. Coordinator Vicente Díaz Quiñones emphasized the need for legal certainty to protect teachers from potential complaints or legal actions by parents or students during the enforcement of disciplinary measures.

Separately, the state has revoked the operating permits of 19 private schools for failing to comply with safety regulations, including structural reports and insurance requirements, following a directive from Governor Libia Dennise García Muñoz Ledo.