Education Ministry signs deal with UNESCO to guide responsible AI use in schools

Mexico has a new ally as it decides how classrooms across the country will use artificial intelligence. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has agreed to support the Public Education Ministry (SEP) with technical assistance, teacher training and research into how to responsibly use AI and other new technologies.

Education Minister Mario Delgado Carrillo and UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences Lidia Arthur Brito signed the letter of intent on Monday at Mexico City’s Muralism Museum (the historic headquarters of the SEP). The agreement aims to drive the digital transformation of education in Mexico and guide the safe and inclusive use of AI in classrooms.

El cambio tecnológico avanza a pasos gigantescos, pero su impacto en el bienestar de nuestras niñas, niños y jóvenes requiere atención inmediata. Hoy, más del 70% de las y los docentes detecta problemas de ansiedad e insomnio en sus alumnos, el 66% nota dificultades en la… pic.twitter.com/nnFCxb7uWR

— Mario Delgado (@mario_delgado) September 8, 2026

The agreement aims to strengthen the capabilities of the National Education System in the face of the rapid expansion of digital platforms.

“We need to understand what happens behind the screens and how digital platforms are designed; platforms whose algorithms can use artificial intelligence to learn our habits, offer us content that captures our attention, and extend the time we spend on them,” Delgado said.

“This situation is particularly sensitive for younger generations, so we must act responsibly to protect their well-being and ensure a healthy educational environment,” he noted.

The collaboration entails technical assistance from UNESCO, the exchange of international experiences, specialized studies, and training for teachers, students and education officials. The goal is to incorporate new technologies as a support for learning, rather than as a substitute for the teaching role, critical thinking or school community interaction.

The agreement also opens the door to establishing rules for the use of cell phones and other digital devices within schools.

Meanwhile, Arthur said that for UNESCO, technology must serve people and education, not the other way around.

In the educational sphere, she said, this entails preserving what no technology can replace: The human relationship between students, critical thinking, creativity, dialogue and the social dimension of learning.

“For this reason, we are making our technical expertise and the knowledge UNESCO has developed regarding technology, education and the ethics of artificial intelligence available to the Secretariat of Public Education and the entire education sector,” she said.

The scope of the agreement will depend on the extent to which the Education Ministry implements it. The challenge will reside in incorporating AI without using it as a substitute for teaching — ensuring that it strengthens public education and preserves the central role of the school community.