Following a steep decline in international assessments, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced plans to introduce specialized textbooks for mathematics and literacy, revamp reading initiatives, and weigh nationwide restrictions on student smartphone use in basic education.
PISA Scores Trigger a National Educational Shift
The administrative push follows the publication of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results given to the public by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on September 8, 2026. Mexico was kept by these results below the average of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in mathematics, reading, and science.
Mexico obtained 388 points in mathematics, 408 in reading, and 414 in sciences. Compared to the previous evaluation, mathematics fell seven points; reading also had a difference of seven points, but the OECD warns that this latter variation was not statistically significant. Sciences increased by four points, although this is also not considered a significant change. Only 30% of students reached the basic level of knowledge in the subject, compared to the OECD average of 65%.
Specialized Textbooks and Pedagogical Strategy
During her press conference from Chiapas, the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, assured that the criticisms of the PISA test are valid and maintained that her position in front of this international evaluation responds to a pedagogical approach and not a political one.
President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo stated that they are criticized for criticizing the PISA test, noting that while criticisms are valid, her stance is not a political position but rather a pedagogical one encompassing various elements of a different educational vision.
Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, President of Mexico
For students, teachers, and families, what has been confirmed so far is that the Mathematics and Literacy materials will be incorporated in 2027; what is still not defined are the final national rules for phones in schools. President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that the Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) will include two special mathematics and literacy books next year to reinforce learning following the low results in the PISA test.
The new Mathematics Book is elaborated by teachers together with specialists from the graduate program in Educational Mathematics of the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), which has existed for a long time, is called Educational Mathematics, and specializes in the learning of mathematics. It is a book that strengthens the New Mexican School. For its part, the Literacy Book is composed of stories, poems, and basic literary texts adapted to the different regions of the country. Although the leader defended the New Mexican School model implemented by former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, she maintained that it is essential to reinforce these two areas.
Addressing Digital Distractions and Literacy Programs
President Sheinbaum noted that new books, reading activities, and measures regarding the use of cell phones in basic education are being prepared. Sheinbaum said that another measure that will contribute to improving learning will be the regulation of the use of cell phones in schools, a measure that the Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) is preparing and intends to implement starting this school year. This is because, she explained, the low results in reading comprehension — which are not exclusive to Mexico, but affect most OECD countries — are related to the excessive use of digital devices in children and young people.
President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo explained that young people, girls, and boys have stopped reading and comprehending what they read due to the excessive use of digital platforms.
Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, President of Mexico
Additionally, the leader announced the creation of a reading program with public servants. The scheme will work as follows: officials will visit different schools on Mondays to read together with the students. This strategy was previously applied in Mexico City and, Sheinbaum affirmed, had excellent results
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Contextualizing Regional Disparities and Next Steps
Sheinbaum explained that a standardized evaluation does not necessarily reflect the particular conditions of each entity, due to the social, cultural, and demographic differences between regions.
President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo maintained that this test is conducted uniformly across all countries, arguing that it is not possible to evaluate education in Chiapas in the same way as in Nuevo León.
Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, President of Mexico
The leader used the presence of indigenous populations in Chiapas as an example, considering that evaluation strategies and tools must take into account the specific characteristics of each community.
