The Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP) of Mexico has recently made waves with important announcements affecting the school calendar and new health policies aimed at promoting student wellness. These initiatives, founded on the principle of enhancing the health and lifestyle of future generations, reveal the government's focus on integrating health education with formal schooling.
One of the major initiatives, announced earlier this week, is the national strategy titled “Vive saludable, Vive feliz,” which aims to eliminate junk food from schools. Set to be enforced starting March 25, this program involves multiple health and education institutions working together to develop healthier eating and lifestyle habits among students. The initiative was launched at the SEP headquarters located at Centro Histórico, Mexico City, with significant remarks from the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum.
Sheinbaum emphasized the importance of ensuring children lead healthy lifestyles from early on to prevent future diseases linked to poor dietary habits. “One of the most important groups are girls and boys, with the goal of making schools spaces for healthy living, where they learn to care for themselves and others,” remarked the head of the federal Executive.
The SEP Secretary, Mario Delgado, noted UNICEF's involvement to monitor the strategy’s implementation and evaluate improvements made to children's quality of life. He announced the formation of 738 health brigades comprising professionals from state and federal health ministries, nurses from the IMSS, and staff from local social development agencies. These teams will conduct assessments of students’ weights, heights, vision, and dental health—concerns identified as impacting academic performance.
This health initiative aims to impact around 12 million primary school students nationwide. Each assessment will generate a unique digital health record for parents, allowing for continued monitoring under the federal health system. This comprehensive project is projected to be the largest health evaluation ever conducted within Mexico's public primary school sector.
Meanwhile, the SEP also made headlines by announcing adjustments to the academic calendar, particularly benefiting basic education students. Starting from February 28 to March 4, students from preschool, primary, and secondary education will enjoy an extended break following local requests related to the Carnaval festivities celebrated widely in Salinas and Mazatlán.
This suspension aligns with previous breaks already scheduled for March, allowing families to partake in culturally significant celebrations without disrupting academic schedules. The bridge has been implemented due to lower school attendance rates historically observed during Carnaval, ensuring students can celebrate without impacting their school performance.
According to reports, this directive permits Sinaloa students to have up to five consecutive days off school. The SEP confirmed these additional days would not alter the national academic calendar but would accommodate local customs. The calendar confirms additional breaks for March, including March 17 and March 21 due to national commemorations and mandatory administrative tasks. Out of academic consideration, classes will resume on March 5, ensuring compliance with the educational program.
Parents can check for updated school calendar information on the SEP website to stay informed about future schedules and changes. This flexibility shows the SEP's responsiveness to local traditions, illustrating the balance sought between cultural participation and academic responsibility.
Within the framework of educational reforms, questions have arisen about the future of the Unidad del Sistema para la Carrera de las Maestras y los Maestros (Usicamm), which is set to be dissolved. This 2019 initiative was created to rectify irregularities around teacher placements but has faced criticism for corruption. Secretary Delgado confirmed their intention to implement new policies aimed at increasing transparency and safeguarding teachers' rights, emphasizing community involvement throughout the transition process.
The upcoming forums scheduled between February 25 and March 11 will provide platforms for educators and stakeholders to contribute to the design of these new measures. “This is not a simulation, it is the dismantling of the Usicamm and the establishment of a new system committed to ensuring the labor rights of teachers,” asserted Delgado.
Political backing for the reforms has generated mixed responses. Supporters believe it will significantly benefit educators, whereas critics caution about the impact of the change on existing staff conditions and rights.
Overall, Mexico's educational shifts reflect attempts to integrate health awareness with academic progress and engage communities through traditions and reforms. While these changes are met with varying opinions, the shared goal remains the enhancement of students' well-being and educational experiences across the nation.