Sawt Falasteen - After backlash, Mexico cancels plan to cut school year for World Cup

On Friday, Education Secretary Mario Delgado unexpectedly announced the school year would end about 40 days early, on June 5, arguing the decision was also based on a heat wave.

But President Claudia Sheinbaum said Monday that education and other government officials would meet to gather input from parents and consider options.

Mexico's academic year will end as scheduled on July 15, followed by a six-week vacation until August 31.

The World Cup tournament -- hosted jointly by Mexico, the United States and Canada -- kicks off on June 11 when Mexico takes on South Africa at home in Mexico City.

"The idea is to keep the vacation period to six weeks, as it has always been, and perhaps some students will start early, while others will continue with the previous schedule," Sheinbaum said earlier.

"The goal is for it to be a consensus decision," she said. "Now we need to listen."

Already, two states have rejected the plan.

Schools in Jalisco state will only suspend classes for the four days when Guadalajara, the state capital, hosts World Cup games.

The governor of Nuevo Leon state -- where Monterrey, which is hosting four matches, is located -- said schools there would keep the original calendar.

Parents also have questioned the measure, which, according to the think tank Mexico Evalua, will cause students to fall behind in their studies.

"The decision... will reduce effective learning time even more for 23.4 million students," Mexico Evalua wrote in a report.

Sheinbaum also guaranteed "conditions of security" necessary for the games as well as the completion of public works projects started before the tournament, particularly additions to the Azteca stadium and the Mexico City International Airport.

H.Darwish--SF-PST