Oaxaca teachers' union protests alleged corruption at regional college

Members of the Sindicato Único de Trabajadores al Servicio del Colegio Superior para la Educación Integral e Intercultural de Oaxaca (SUTCSEIIO) staged a protest on the first Monday of the Cerro event in Oaxaca, as hundreds of tourists and locals headed to the Auditorio Guelaguetza. The demonstrators demanded the removal of the college’s director, René Vásquez Castillejos, accusing him of misappropriating more than five million pesos, lack of transparency in procurement, nepotism, employing "aviadores" on the payroll, and neglecting education for indigenous youth. They also called for a comprehensive audit of the institution. Security forces were present, and no major incidents were reported.

In a separate statement, the union criticized the director for failing to improve academic standards over the past three years, alleging that he prioritized political interests, hired unqualified staff without proper selection procedures, and awarded contracts based on political connections. The union warned that these practices undermine the Mixed Academic Committee and harm the 48 community high schools managed by the college, urging the state government to intervene.