Feminist Group Files Complaint Over Illegal Fees at Public High Schools in Quintana Roo

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — The feminist collective Marea Verde announced it will file a complaint with the state human rights commission (Cdheqroo) to investigate the legality of enrollment fees charged by various public high schools in Quintana Roo.

The group will also request that, if the fees lack legal basis, authorities order the refund of money to families, arguing the practice may violate the constitutional right to free public education.

Lawyer and collective member Yunitzilim Rodríguez Pedraza said the commission must ask education authorities for the legal foundation supporting these charges. She noted that enrollment announcements do not list as mandatory requirements payments for concepts such as “document processing” or “high school contribution,” yet in practice parents are sent to pay to complete the process.

Rodríguez Pedraza said she personally experienced this situation and saw several mothers who did not have the requested money. According to her, those who could not pay were asked to sign payment agreements or hand over a partial amount to continue the process, creating economic pressure and conditioning access to education.

The activist said the practice occurs not only at one school but also at institutions such as CBTIS, Conalep, and Cecyte, where fees can reach up to 1,800 pesos per semester.

The collective called on the government of Quintana Roo, the state education department, and the federal government to review these charges and ensure that no student is denied access to high school for economic reasons. It also urged parents and guardians to document their cases and share testimonies to strengthen the complaint before the Cdheqroo.