[News] Collateral damage from violence in Mexico: schools suspended activities almost 200 times

[Inkriql]

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Between 2019 and 2020 schools of different levels have interrupted activities on at least 199 occasions as a result of violence between criminal groups. Similarly, 12 other institutions have remained closed for up to seven years due to the same conditions.

Primary schools have been the most affected, by suspending their activities 104 times; meanwhile, high schools in 51, preschoolers 49, high schools in four and universities in three.

According to a report to which El Universal had access, this problem has taken place in eight states: Coahuila, Mexico City, Guerrero, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Puebla, San Luis Potosí and Tabasco.

This information obtained through requests for information that the mentioned medium made to the State Secretaries of Public Education, defines that 199 school stoppages have been temporary, while 10 institutions in Guerrero and two in Michoacán closed their doors permanently by the insecurity of the regions.

Guanajuato represents the state where most cases have been filed (146). The document indicates that in some cases the classes were interrupted because security elements suspended the roads or because the parents requested it.

On the other hand, Guerrero has 27 cases of this type. For example, in the José María Izazaga municipality, Valentín Gómez Farías Elementary School has been closed for seven years, due to a “mass murder”.

Also, in the towns of Zirándaro, Coyuca de Catalán, Petatlán, Pedro Ascencio de Alquisiras and Zihuatanejo de Azueta there are nine primary schools that have been closed for one to three years due to insecurity or lack of residents and students.

In Michoacán, 17 secondary schools have stopped operating, since as indicated in the document “the community left the town for fear of insecurity”. Taking of roads, taking of vehicles, threats that have circulated through flyers and clashes between criminal groups, have also been reasons why secondary schools in the state have closed their doors.

Similarly, Puebla has slowed classes in 10 of its schools due to clashes, shootings and kidnapping of teachers.

On the other hand, last January 10 in Torreón, Coahuila four primary and a secondary school had to stop their activities after the detonation of a firearm inside the Cervantes College, which left a teacher and a child who He lost his life after performing the attack.