Private Schools in Mexico Defy SEP, Vow to Continue Classes Until July 15

Mexico City — Private schools across Mexico will ignore the federal government’s decision to end the school year a month early, vowing to keep classes running until July 15 as originally scheduled.

The National Association for Educational Development and the National Association of Private Schools (ANFE-ANEP) announced that their member institutions have legal and contractual backing to continue offering educational services through the original end date.

The controversy began when the Public Education Secretariat (SEP) proposed ending the 2025-2026 school year early, citing extreme heat and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, the final calendar has not yet been confirmed. President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledged on Friday that no definitive calendar exists, following the proposal by Education Secretary Mario Delgado.

Private school associations argue that the changes would disrupt families who have already planned activities based on the original schedule. They maintain that schools can legally hold classes, workshops, and remedial courses as stipulated in contracts signed at the start of the school year.

According to ANFE-ANEP, the decision does not violate any law as long as schools comply with official procedures such as grade reporting and administrative requirements. They cited the General Education Law, which mandates 185 to 200 school days and prioritizes effective teaching hours.

The associations warned that the SEP’s proposal could reduce the school year to just 159 effective days, potentially harming student learning. They called on the SEP to clarify final platform closure dates, administrative guidelines, and the true scope of the changes, urging the secretariat to reconsider its adjustments.