Mexico’s National Association of Private Schools (ANEP) announced that starting Mar. 1, the private schools belonging to the association will open their doors for optional in-person classes, despite the federal government’s epidemiological traffic light restrictions.

 

“It is of vital importance that directors, teachers, and parents initiate in-person educational activities to face new challenges and new living conditions in society generated by the pandemic,” stated ANEP’s president, Alfredo Jiménez.

 

Jiménez announced at a press conference that schools in-person classes will have to follow the sanitation and hygiene measures dictated by the Departments of Health and Education.

 

He also requested the support of the Department of Public Education, Department of Health, Department of Finance and Public Credit, Department of Economy, and Department of Agriculture, as well as the support of state governments during the opening of schools.

 

It is estimated that approximately 65 percent ​​of the association’s students from preschool to graduate school will return to in-person classes. The association predicts that about 8,190 of its schools will return to in-person classes.

 

However, Jiménez announced that ANEP is seeking dialogue with the new director of the Department of Public Education, Delfina Gómez. “We are currently seeking direct contact with the new secretary of education. It was not possible before. We wanted classes to start in February but the previous secretary, Esteban Moctezuma, was very closed and not willing to dialogue.”

 

Sources: National Association of Private Schools