The start of the 2025 school year across Peru has been marred by controversy and challenges, highlighting significant issues within the education system as well as political tensions. A stark example occurred recently when President Dina Boluarte faced public backlash during the opening ceremony conducted at the G.U.E. Inc. Garcilaso de la Vega school in Cusco. Her pre-recorded message was met with boos and jeers from spectators, prompting the event's moderators to cut the broadcast short to prevent any more discomfort.
While Boluarte's greeting was intended to symbolize the government's commitment to education, the crowd's reaction underscored growing dissatisfaction with her leadership. According to reports from the Comptroller's Office, 57 schools within the Cusco region face various deficiencies, calling the quality of education and student safety heavily under scrutiny.
Meanwhile, former President Martín Vizcarra was vocal about the political conditions affecting education. Speaking during his visit to Huancayo, he remarked on the decline of support for Keiko Fujimori following the death of her father, Alberto Fujimori, who passed away in 2024. Vizcarra expressed concern over the potential decrease of electoral support for Keiko Fujimori heading to the 2026 elections, stating, "Without Alberto, many of her former voters are reconsidering their support." He criticized the coalition between Boluarte's government and various political parties, which according to him, has created what he described as a government marked by failures.
Further compounding the challenges faced by the education sector, students at school No. 70549 “Virgen del Carmen” in Juliaca started the 2025 academic year outdoors due to severe flooding of their classrooms. The situation was so dire, emphasized Rolando Aréstegui Apaza, the director of the school, they had no choice but to conduct the initiation ceremony outside. He explained, "We'll only have distance classes for now," emphasizing the urgent need for over 15 million soles for infrastructural reconstruction. Parents of the affected students staged protests against the local government for not facilitating necessary reconstruction plans.
Alarming statistics were released by the Ayacucho's Ombudsman, Wilber Vega Mendoza, indicating 63% of the region’s schools—1,820 out of 2,864—require complete rebuilding. Many institutions lack even the most basic requirements for functioning properly. He pointed out, "Over half our schools fail to provide minimum conditions for learning, exposing students and teachers to unsafe environments." A staggering 60% are reported to lack legal physical sanitation, compliculating any claims for official funding needed for repairs.
Crime has also escalated alongside educational shortcomings. Just days ago, two violent incidents shocked the people of Trujillo, La Libertad. A woman was shot after being mugged immediately following her withdrawal of cash from Caja Trujillo, illustrating the rampant crime affecting everyday life. Witnesses recount the terror experienced during the assault at the Plaza de Armas where she was left bleeding from her wounds but fortunately is out of danger. This occurred just minutes before another appalling event where Milko Gary Encomenderos Alva, 47, was murdered inside his vehicle, leaving the community grappling with the increasing violence.
The governor of La Libertad, César Acuña, expressed his concerns over the ineffectiveness of the local "Plan Cuadrante," stating, "It should not happen, especially not within the heart of Trujillo." He called for accountability from local police leaders, underscoring the urgent need for improved safety.
Meanwhile, Lambayeque faced chaos when over 500 attendees at the Aventura nightclub were disrupted by the detonation of tear gas, leading to multiple injuries. Local authorities have yet to determine how the tear gas canister entered the premises, but the municipal government acted by closing the venue following the incident.
Compounding these predicaments is the dilemma faced by the Maynas Provincial Municipality of Loreto, which now finds itself unable to collect municipal fees for 2025 after the city council repealed the ordinances regulating these charges. According to Juan Carlos García Mimbela, the city’s manager for revenues, this legal void threatens public services. He stated, “We are addressing this problem by enhancing our collection efforts on previously outstanding debts.” Citizens who had already paid their first installment find themselves caught off guard with uncertainty about the next steps.
Across the country, overlapping issues of governance, crime, and education challenges paint a concerning picture for Peru as it embarks on the new school year. Many are left questioning how their leaders will address these pivotal problems amid rising discontent from citizens eager for change.
