Mexico and Colombia implement new school cell phone regulations

Educational authorities in Mexico and Colombia are implementing new measures to regulate or restrict the use of mobile devices and digital screens in schools. In Mexico, the Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP) is preparing a national agreement to establish rules for cell phone use in primary and secondary schools. This follows a consultation where 81% of over 565,000 teachers supported establishing guidelines to ensure safe and pedagogical use. Concerns cited include decreased attention spans and cyberbullying.

In Morelos, authorities are also discussing limits on Artificial Intelligence in classrooms, leaving specific implementation to the discretion of individual teachers. Additionally, the Catholic Church in Mexico has called for responsible regulation, noting that mere prohibition is insufficient and emphasizing the need for digital education that involves families and adults to manage technology use effectively.

In Colombia, the Secretaría de Educación del Distrito is promoting the “(Re)conectarnos para aprender” strategy. This initiative seeks to restrict mobile devices during both classes and breaks to combat screen addiction, improve academic performance, and foster physical interaction among students. The policy includes specific age-based limits and exceptions for health emergencies or pedagogical purposes.