Sheinbaum Urges Mexican Students to Trade Screens for Books in National Reading Campaign
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-Editorial
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum launched a national reading initiative Nov. 3, encouraging students to spend less time on electronic devices and more time reading books as part of broader efforts to promote literacy and responsible technology use in schools.
The initiative, known as the National Reading Day, was introduced at Technical Secondary School No. 2, “Corregidora de Querétaro,” in Mexico City’s Cuauhtémoc borough.
During the event, Sheinbaum joined students in reading an excerpt from Canek, a literary work by Mexican author Ermilo Abreu Gómez. The passage focused on the concept of immensity, which the president used to encourage students to explore their imagination and discover the world beyond digital screens.
“Immensity is the universe. Immensity is everything you can discover, not necessarily through a cellphone,” Sheinbaum told students.
She encouraged young people to develop reading habits and recognize books as a source of knowledge, creativity, and personal development.
“Let’s replace the screen with a book,” Sheinbaum said, echoing a message promoted by Mexico’s Ministry of Public Education. “Let’s put down the screen and let our imagination take flight.”
The launch coincided with the implementation of a national agreement establishing guidelines for the responsible and safe use of personal digital devices and educational technologies in public and private schools throughout Mexico’s National Education System.
The agreement is intended to protect the rights of children, adolescents and young adults while promoting responsible interactions with digital technology in educational settings.
Sheinbaum emphasized that the initiative seeks to encourage students to maintain a balance between technology use, reading and face-to-face communication.
She said schools should provide opportunities for students to interact directly with classmates rather than relying primarily on electronic devices.
“When we are at school, we should return to sharing experiences so that our relationships are not conducted through a screen,” Sheinbaum said.
She also emphasized the importance of preserving reading as a fundamental educational activity.
“One of the most wonderful things we can do is open a book and read. We should not leave that behind,” she said.
The event was attended by Public Education Secretary Mario Delgado Carrillo and Paco Ignacio Taibo II, director general of Mexico’s Economic Culture Fund, a government-supported publishing institution.
The national reading initiative forms part of the Mexican government’s efforts to encourage literacy, promote responsible digital habits, and strengthen interpersonal interaction among students.
The government did not provide specific details in the announcement regarding how reading activities would be implemented at individual schools or how compliance with the new digital device guidelines would be monitored.
