Mexico's business leaders slam school cuts over heatwave concerns
Mexico’s Employers’ Federation (Coparmex) has strongly criticised plans to shorten the school year due to heatwaves. The organisation warns that such a move would disrupt millions of working families and harm the country’s long-term development. Education, they argue, is vital for national competitiveness and cannot be compromised by administrative decisions. Coparmex has labelled the early end to the academic year as unacceptable. The group highlights the severe impact on working mothers, who depend on schools for childcare while they work. They also point to legal concerns, questioning whether the Ministry of Public Education has the authority to alter the school calendar without clear rules.
The federation insists that better alternatives exist to protect children from extreme heat. Suggestions include adjusted schedules, flexible learning arrangements, or regional solutions tailored to local conditions. They also call for greater investment in school infrastructure, such as cooling systems and improved ventilation, to prevent future disruptions. Education deficits in Mexico already affect 19.4% of the population, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). Coparmex notes that the country ranked 35th out of 37 OECD nations in the 2022 PISA results. They argue that further reducing school time would worsen these outcomes without proper technical justification.
Coparmex’s stance reflects concerns over both immediate and long-term consequences. The group stresses that learning cannot be sacrificed for decisions lacking solid reasoning. Without changes, they warn, the economic and social costs will fall heavily on families and the country’s future workforce.
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