The CNTE stands up to the SEP: the World Cup does not dictate the school calendar
Imagine this: the Ministry of Public Education announces changes to the school calendar due to high temperatures and the 2026 Soccer World Cup. The response from Section XXII of the CNTE in Oaxaca? A resounding “no, thank you.” They confirmed that they will maintain their own alternative calendar, closing the cycle on July 7, 2026. It is as if the federal government said “we are going to move the pieces on the board”, and the teachers responded: “we play by our own rules.”
“Outrageous that the head of the SEP, Mario Delgado, and the government of Claudia Sheinbaum try to justify alterations to the school year using climatic conditions as a pretext,” the union said in a statement.
And you know what? They are absolutely right. Schools in Mexico have been dealing with infrastructure problems for years: lack of ventilation, drinking water, decent spaces. For decades, students and teachers have taken classes in extreme conditions without anyone lifting a finger. But now, suddenly, the topic becomes relevant. Chance? I don’t believe it. Behind it there are economic, tourist and political interests linked to the World Cup. It is as if the government has discovered warm water just when there is an event that promises millionaire profits for large corporations.
Public education is not sold to the highest bidder
The CNTE says it clearly: “Public education cannot become a tool at the service of the market nor be subordinated to media and economic projects promoted by power.” This is not just another protest. It is a declaration of principles. The Oaxacan teachers defend their alternative calendar, built from the pedagogical and social needs of the communities, not from the interests of a few.
And be careful, the mobilizations are not a whim. They are a response to structural problems: decent infrastructure, basic services, respect for labor rights. The closure of the school year in Oaxaca remains firm for July 7, 2026. As the organization said: “True change in education must come from listening to those who live reality in classrooms and communities, not from political or commercial interests outside of public education.”
So while the federal government is betting on the World Cup, the CNTE is betting on the classrooms. Who will win this game? The answer, as always, is in the streets and in the schools.
