The Mexican government has scrapped plans to shorten the school year before the World Cup following widespread backlash from parents, think tanks, and local authorities.

Education Secretary Mario Delgado had unexpectedly announced the school year would end about 40 days early, citing a heatwave. President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed skepticism and convened a meeting on Monday to gather input from parents and consider alternatives.

At the meeting, it was agreed to keep the original calendar: the school year will end July 15, with classes resuming August 31. Sheinbaum stated the goal was a consensus decision and that the vacation period would remain six weeks.

Two states rejected the plan before its cancellation. Think tank Mexico Evalua warned the move would reduce effective learning time for 23.4 million students, and parents questioned the measure.

The World Cup, co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada, kicks off June 11. Sheinbaum guaranteed security conditions for the games and completion of public works, including upgrades to the Azteca stadium and Mexico City International Airport.

Source: www.aljazeera.com