Mexican Parents Challenge Early School Year End for World Cup Travel and Heat
Education Secretary Mario Delgado announced the school year would conclude on 5 June, rather than the traditional end date, citing both elevated traffic due to the Fifa World Cup, which Mexico will co-host, and a forecast of extreme heat. This sudden change would leave parents across the country with less than four weeks to arrange additional childcare.
The announcement prompted immediate anger from parents and objections from employers' associations. One parent, speaking to El Universal, highlighted the disruption: "The children are currently in the middle of their evaluations, and they've already been told that they'll be evaluated based on whatever they have. What kind of response is that?" Another noted, "They want the city empty for the tourists, and we're left wondering what we'll eat," pointing to the financial burden of summer activities.
The National Union of Parents condemned the "unilateral decision," calling the use of the World Cup as a justification "inexcusable." They questioned the rationale, stating, "The matches will only be held in three cities. Why affect almost 23 million students under this absurd pretext?"
Coparmex, an association representing business owners, warned that the alteration would create uncertainty for both employees and employers. They advocated for individual states to implement their own arrangements to address heatwaves and travel disruption, thereby lessening the economic impact.
Despite Delgado's claim of a unanimous decision, the governments of three states, including two World Cup host locations, publicly opposed the plan. One state declared it would adhere to the original school calendar.
In response to the widespread criticism, President Claudia Sheinbaum subsequently described the early school year end as merely a "proposal." She stated: "Since many Mexicans like soccer and are following the World Cup, this proposal was made to bring forward the holidays. But the school days of the girls and boys also have to be taken into consideration. So, it's a proposal. The full schedule isn't ready yet, and we're going to wait until it's definitively decided." She further suggested the idea originated from teachers' unions and state education secretaries, rather than the central government.
Mexico is set to co-host the international football tournament with the US and Canada from 11 June to 19 July. Prior complications have included a crackdown on violent drug cartels earlier in the year, which led to a wave of violence following the killing of a cartel leader. Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state and a World Cup host city, was at the epicentre of this violence. Despite these security concerns, Sheinbaum has asserted "no risk" to visiting football fans, with Fifa President Gianni Infantino expressing similar reassurance. Mexico intends to deploy thousands of security personnel during the tournament.
