MEXICO CITY — President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday distanced herself from her education minister’s abrupt proposal to slash the school year by more than a month this summer, citing scorching heat and the upcoming FIFA World Cup, as parents’ groups erupted in fury over the potential disruption to children’s learning.
Speaking at her daily press briefing, Sheinbaum stressed that the idea to advance holidays remains preliminary. “Many Mexicans are soccer fans eager for the World Cup, which prompted this suggestion to shift the calendar forward,” she said. “But we must prioritize the required school days for our kids, there’s no firm timeline yet.”
The controversy ignited Thursday when Education Secretary Mario Delgado announced on X that the National Council of Educational Authorities had approved shortening the term, blaming a brutal heat wave and Mexico’s role as World Cup co-host. He pledged that “all curriculum requirements will be fulfilled and students’ progress safeguarded,” though he offered no specifics on execution.
The revamped schedule would wrap classes on June 5,over six weeks ahead of the traditional July 15 finishwith the next term kicking off August 31, a day sooner than last year.
Outrage poured in swiftly from the National Union of Parent Associations, which slammed the plan as “unacceptable.” “Sacrificing our children’s education for a sports event in just three of Mexico’s 2,500 municipalities is outrageous,” the group stated, noting that extreme heat is a seasonal norm that eases with June’s rains.
Proponents argue early closures could unclog traffic in host cities like Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara, which will stage 13 matches in June and July amid an influx of global fans. Yet complications loom: Mexico’s influential teachers’ union has vowed strikes starting with the World Cup opener, pressing for better wages and pension reforms.
Public schools, serving about 90% of Mexico’s students, would follow the change, while private institutions, attended by the rest, face no mandate. The country swelters under a heat wave pushing temperatures to 45°C in some areas, though such spikes are commonplace before monsoon relief arrives.