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Mexico to close most militarized schools after student's murder
🇲🇽 Mexico /Culture & Society

Mexico to close most militarized schools after student's murder

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Mexico's Education Secretary Mario Delgado announced that 25 out of 26 militarized schools will cease operations unless transformed, with one already closed.
  • The move follows the femicide of a 13-year-old student at a militarized school in Tamaulipas.
  • Delgado stated that militarized education is exclusively the domain of the National Defense Secretariat and that these schools must transition to civic and humanist concepts or face closure.

Following the femicide of 13-year-old Dafne Zapata at a militarized school in Tamaulipas, Mexico's Secretary of Public Education, Mario Delgado Carrillo, announced a sweeping reform of such institutions. He revealed that 25 of the 26 schools operating with a militarized model will be unable to continue unless they transform their educational approach. One such institution has already been shut down by the Tamaulipas government.

we will not have any [militarized schools] at the start of the next school year.

— Mario Delgado CarrilloSecretary of Public Education Mario Delgado Carrillo announcing reforms to militarized schools.

Delgado emphasized that "we will not have any [militarized schools] at the start of the next school year." He explained that these schools, which often masked abuses, mistreatment, and violence under a guise of discipline, will no longer be permitted. "We have to protect young people, adolescents, and children," he stated, vowing to shut down any institution that fails to change its model.

Behind this military concept and apparently discipline, in some cases there were abuses, mistreatment, and violence.

— Mario Delgado CarrilloSecretary of Public Education Mario Delgado Carrillo explaining the reasons for closing militarized schools.

The Secretary clarified that militarized education is the exclusive purview of the National Defense Secretariat, beginning at the secondary level for those preparing to join the Mexican Army or National Guard. He urged state authorities to meticulously review the authorizations and permits of all educational institutions. Schools operating under militarized concepts must transition to civic, citizen-based, and humanist models. Those unwilling to change will be closed.

Then, no school that under any concept disguises this type of abuse and violence will be allowed. We have to protect young people, adolescents, and children.

— Mario Delgado CarrilloSecretary of Public Education Mario Delgado Carrillo on the need to protect students.

Delgado noted that states have largely understood the need for this regulation, recognizing that these schools operated outside legal frameworks. The SEP is working with state and federal authorities to facilitate the transformation, ensuring that students are not left without educational options.

Military education corresponds exclusively to the Secretariat of National Defense and it begins in upper secondary education for the preparation of those who will integrate the Mexican Army or the National Guard.

— Mario Delgado CarrilloSecretary of Public Education Mario Delgado Carrillo defining the scope of military education.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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