SNTE warns of school delays amid teacher debt and political influence

The National Union of Education Workers (SNTE) has warned of potential disruptions to the upcoming school year in Morelos. Joel Sánchez Vélez, general secretary of Section 19, stated that high school classes scheduled to begin on August 31 may not start due to an unpaid debt of between 50 and 60 million pesos owed to teachers. Nationally, the debt to educators at this level is estimated at approximately 2 billion pesos.

In the State of Mexico, reports indicate that SNTE Section 36 maintains administrative control over the payroll and budget for more than 100,000 teachers. This control is exercised through the Integrated Educational Services of the State of Mexico (SEIEM), which manages an annual budget of 46 billion pesos. Documents suggest the union utilized this influence to support Morena candidates during the 2024 elections through a strategic operation involving school administrators and local community members.