Mexico’s Ministry of Public Education has suspended a controversial new school curriculum after a court ruled against its implementation.
Minister for Public Education, Leticía Ramírez said a pilot program for the new curriculum, which was to have begun this month (October) in 960 schools would be put on hold while her Ministry considered the challenge by the Educación con Rumbo (Education with Direction) organisation.
Education with Direction claims the new curriculum breaches the country’s Constitution.
Ms Ramírez (pictured) said her Ministry would initiate its own legal action and expected a favourable outcome.
“Although the pilot program is under suspension, training for pre-school, primary school and secondary school teachers on the implementation of the new curriculum will continue,” Ms Ramírez said.
The Government is seeking to overhaul the way in which students are taught in Mexican schools.
The Reforma newspaper reported earlier this year that the new education model was characterised by its promotion of a community rather than global outlook.
“It eliminates concepts considered to be neoliberal (a dirty word, according to President López Obrador) and supports teachers’ educational autonomy,” the newspaper stated.
Director of Education Materials at the Ministry, Marx Arriaga said he had already overseen a process to develop new textbooks “that confine neoliberalism to the dustbin of history”.
“The new curriculum model will place much greater emphasis on sharing and the common good rather than pitting individual students against each other,” Mr Arriaga said.
“The model will be libertarian and humanist and will put an end to racism in the education system and standardised tests that segregate society.”
Mexico City, 25 October 2022
