Mexico to phase out 26 militarized schools by 2026

militarized schools SEP educational reform Mexico Mario Delgado

Mexico's Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) has announced that 26 schools currently operating under a militarized model must undergo a complete transformation or face closure by the start of the 2026-2027 school year. Secretary Mario Delgado stated that such models are not recognized by national educational legislation and that the move aims to prevent instances of abuse, mistreatment, and violence that have been reported under the guise of military discipline.

The transformation requires institutions to replace military concepts with civic, citizen-based, and humanistic curricula. Delgado emphasized that military training is the exclusive jurisdiction of the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) and is intended only for higher secondary levels preparing students for the Armed Forces or National Guard.

The decision follows the death of 13-year-old Dafne Zapata at a militarized academy in Tamaulipas, an incident currently being investigated as a femicide. The SEP has coordinated with state governments in regions such as Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, Nuevo León, and Guanajuato to ensure these institutions transition to regular educational frameworks or cease operations.

Entities

Claudia Sheinbaum · Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos · Consejo Nacional de Autoridades Educativas · Dafne Zapata · Mario Delgado Carrillo · Mexico · Secretaría de Educación Pública · Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] The deadline for these institutions to modify their plans is August 31, 2026. mayacomunicacion.com.mx
[● 6 SOURCES] A total of 26 schools have been identified as operating under a militarized model. xeu.mx · www.diarioevolucion.com.mx · mayacomunicacion.com.mx · www.poresto.com · contralinea.com.mx · +1 more
[● 6 SOURCES] Militarized schools must transform their curricula and organization into civic and humanistic models or face closure. xeu.mx · www.diarioevolucion.com.mx · mayacomunicacion.com.mx · www.poresto.com · contralinea.com.mx · +1 more
[● 4 SOURCES] The measure follows the death of 13-year-old Dafne Zapata at the Marina Doenitz Militarized Academy in Tamaulipas. xeu.mx · www.diarioevolucion.com.mx · quepasamedia.com · www.diariomarca.com.mx
[● 6 SOURCES] The Mexican government will eliminate the militarized school model by the start of the 2026-2027 school year. xeu.mx · www.diarioevolucion.com.mx · mayacomunicacion.com.mx · www.poresto.com · contralinea.com.mx · +1 more
[● 4 SOURCES] The SEP has identified cases of abuse, mistreatment, and violence occurring under the guise of military discipline. xeu.mx · www.diarioevolucion.com.mx · www.poresto.com · www.diariomarca.com.mx
[● 2 SOURCES] Schools that fail to comply with the transformation will be subject to closure by state governments. www.diarioevolucion.com.mx · contralinea.com.mx
[● 3 SOURCES] Military training is the exclusive faculty of the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA). xeu.mx · mayacomunicacion.com.mx · www.poresto.com