Education Ministry blames screen use for Mexican students’ falling scores

Education Minister Mario Delgado attributed Mexico's poor performance in the recent international PISA evaluation test to students' excessive screen use, particularly on cell phones and computer screens. Delgado, while skeptical about the test's ability to fully evaluate the Mexican educational system, acknowledged that the sample was representative of the country's 15-year-olds.

He directly linked the decline in reading test scores to screen use, stating that it made it easy for teenagers to "read" or consume images, thus hindering their ability to comprehend complex and lengthy texts.

Ranked 64th out of 91 countries evaluated, Mexico's math and reading scores dropped to their lowest levels since 2009. Delgado proposed promoting team games as a potential remedy for the issue, emphasizing that such activities encourage teamwork, social interaction, and the formation of new friendships. He defended the New Mexican School model, which was introduced during the previous presidential administration, without outlining specific pedagogical strategies.

The Education Ministry also implemented formative assessment programs under the New Mexican School scheme, including 7 million integrative learning exercises in the past year. However, Delgado insisted that the lower scores represent a significant loss in learning, equivalent to losing a year of education. While President Claudia Sheinbaum has criticized the PISA test for its global application, she initiated a public debate about screen use and children's early exposure to digital platforms, leading to new national guidelines restricting cell phone usage in schools.

Delgado claimed that with cell phone regulation in place, alternative activities, such as team games, can effectively engage students and foster cooperative learning skills.