Students in Sinaloa are experiencing heightened anxiety alongside increased peer interaction during recess following the rollout of a federal directive restricting mobile phones in classrooms, according to state education officials.
Classroom Restrictions Alter Recess Behavior Across Schools
The restriction began on November 3 across the country as part of an initiative by the federal Secretariat of Public Education to cut down on classroom distractions and boost student focus. In Sinaloa, the Secretariat of Public Education and Culture (SEPyC) reported a positive initial response during the first week of implementation. Agency head Gloria Himelda Félix Niebla stated that visits to educational facilities revealed students abandoning their usual isolation with mobile devices in favor of group activities.
When they went out for recess they were more isolated, they were on their phones all alone, and today they have greater interaction with each other
, Félix Niebla stated, describing playground scenes that included soccer matches at primary schools and dance practices at secondary institutions. In basic education settings, the regulation covers the restriction of mobile phones and other devices throughout the entire school day, including during recess breaks, except for specific pedagogical needs or extraordinary situations. Distinct rules apply for upper secondary and higher education levels. The agency clarified that the policy is not an absolute ban on carrying phones, but rather a restriction on using them during instructional hours. Officials noted that the policy was developed following a national socialisation process involving psychiatrists, psychologists, educational theorists, and technology researchers, with roughly 80 percent of survey participants favoring limits on devices inside schools.
Providing Emotional Support for Students Experiencing Digital Anxiety
While peer interaction has risen, SEPyC acknowledged that separating students from digital platforms triggered anxiety among some adolescents accustomed to constant notifications. To address this, the state is coordinating with institutions such as the Secretariat of Health to offer emotional support interventions across campuses. Félix Niebla mentioned that school personnel have been reviewing campuses and explaining the rationale behind the initiative to safeguard youth and adolescent well-being.
Regarding household reactions, SEPyC reported no formal grievances lodged against the department despite mixed opinions from a minority of families.
I have heard good spirits from the fathers and mothers of families. There are those, a minority, who dissent from the measure, which is respectable; however, we must understand that this is for the well-being of our adolescent girls
Gloria Himelda Félix Niebla, Secretariat of Public Education and Culture
Félix Niebla emphasized that community collaboration remains essential for successfully implementing these preventative health measures across all participating regional schools, adding that officials expect the policy to yield palpable improvements in academic achievement and student attention.