Students demand closure of Puebla normal school following abuse reports

Former students of the Escuela Normal Rural Carmen Serdán in Teteles de Ávila Castillo, Puebla, are demanding the school's closure following reports of severe abuse during “novatadas” (initiation rituals). Victims reported being beaten, deprived of food and water, forced into strenuous physical activities, and subjected to humiliations, such as being forced to sleep with dogs.

According to local authorities, dozens of students have withdrawn from the institution, with 52 new students leaving and 25 already relocated to other schools. There are currently 15 active investigations and multiple criminal complaints filed against members of the student council. At least nine arrest warrants have been issued in connection with the reported abuses.

In a related legal development, Alejandro Martínez Martínez, a lawyer representing the students, was detained on charges of dispossession after allegedly blocking school officials and authorities from accessing the campus. The state Secretariat of Public Education stated it respects the organization of rural normal schools but does not condone activities that violate human rights.