Quintana Roo Lawmaker Proposes Classroom Cellphone Restrictions to Boost Academic Performance

Quintana Roo, Mexico — A Quintana Roo lawmaker has proposed legislation to restrict cellphone use in elementary and middle school classrooms, aiming to improve academic performance and restore teacher authority during lessons.

State Deputy Hugo Alday announced last week that he introduced a bill in the local congress to tighten controls on mobile device use in schools. The proposal would restrict cellphones during school hours without banning possession, allowing use only when teachers authorize it as an educational tool or in emergencies.

Alday explained that excessive screen time in classrooms directly affects student attention, neuromotor development, and visual health while interfering with the teaching-learning process.

The legislator emphasized that the intention is not to punish students but to create more controlled educational environments where class time translates to effective learning with fewer technological distractions.

The initiative joins a global debate about the impact of digital technologies on children and adolescents, as various countries consider limiting early access to devices and social media, particularly during school hours.