Mexico scraps plans to shorten school year for World Cup tournament

Government Officials Reaffirm School Calendar Amid Widespread Backlash

Mexico’s government has announced that it will maintain its original school calendar, with classes ending on July 15 and resuming on August 31. The decision comes after widespread criticism from parents, think tanks, and local authorities following an initial proposal to shorten the school year by approximately 40 days.

Following an announcement by Education Secretary Mario Delgado that the school year would end earlier than planned, government officials met with parents and considered alternative options at a meeting convened by President Claudia Sheinbaum. The meeting aimed to gather input from stakeholders and explore potential solutions.

According to the Education Department, the decision to maintain the original calendar was reached after considering various factors, including the need for students to have a consistent learning period. The government has also emphasized the importance of ensuring conditions of security necessary for major events, such as the upcoming World Cup tournament hosted jointly by Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

The proposed changes had sparked concerns among parents and experts, with some warning that shortening the school year could lead to students falling behind in their studies. The think tank Mexico Evalua reported that the initial proposal would reduce effective learning time for 23.4 million students.

Source: Al Jazeera