Mexico's School Year to End Early Amid Heat and World Cup Preparations

Mexico's Secretary of Public Education, Mario Delgado, has confirmed that the 2025-2026 school year will conclude earlier than usual, on June 5. This decision stems from the escalating high temperatures affecting various regions and the logistical impact of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Mexico will co-host. Delgado acknowledged that the exact date for students' return to classes is still under review, a point of concern for parents, educators, and specialists worried about potential learning loss, particularly after the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. "We don't want there to be an impact," Delgado stated, addressing these anxieties. The proposal to advance the school year's end has drawn criticism from educational organizations and parent groups, who warn that reducing effective class time could exacerbate existing educational gaps, especially in public schools. Experts also note that this measure would affect over 23 million students nationwide, despite the World Cup's primary venues being concentrated in just three states: Mexico City, Jalisco, and Nuevo León. In northern states like Sonora, where summer temperatures frequently exceed 45 degrees Celsius, educational authorities have defended calendar adjustments as necessary for student and staff health, particularly in schools lacking adequate ventilation or air conditioning.

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We are going to finish on the fifth because many states already have high temperatures and there is also the issue of the World Cup. Teachers leave on the twelfth for administrative tasks, but we are going to review the return date.