The Urgent Need for Action Following Recent Incidents
The tragic murder of a student from the CCH South last week has once again brought attention to the rising violence in schools since 2010. While the perpetrator’s motivation, fueled by toxic social media, may seem distinct from other cases, school violence often stems from inequality, discrimination, limited horizons, resentment, loneliness, frustration, and permissiveness in hostile or violent environments.
Each time a student is killed or abused at school, public opinion expresses shock and concern – for a while – and authorities pledge to take all necessary measures “to ensure security,” along with new commitments and agreements to promote “good coexistence.” However, these declarations have become hollow due to their repetitive nature.
The Broader Context of Violence in Mexico
School violence cannot be separated from the widespread and normalized violence in Mexican society. In a country where crime reaches extreme levels of cruelty, where institutions themselves violate human rights and continue to protect criminals due to their high positions or personal influences, impunity fosters tolerance for behaviors that threaten the integrity, tranquility, and lives of others.
The urgency to address school violence through prevention programs and effective sanctions has been emphasized for fifteen to twenty years due to the increase in criminal, institutional, and social violence stemming from the so-called “war on drugs.” Even then, it was foreseeable that an aggressive or quasi-military atmosphere (in certain regions) could degrade social, community, and family life, especially in a society that is unequal, misogynistic, racist, and discriminatory like ours.
The Need for Long-Term Strategies
Insisting on what “will be done” (without specifying how) instead of presenting a critical balance and acknowledging negligence and failures in the educational sector (public and private) will not alleviate the problem, either now or in the medium term. If we genuinely want to “guarantee” a suitable environment for coexistence and learning, long-term strategies must be designed and planned, regardless of whether results are visible within a six-year term.
Had there been a sense of responsibility from the state and not a prioritization of partisan and personal interests from one administration to another, perhaps we could speak of significant progress at least in violence prevention. Since 2006, governments have promoted some programs to prevent peer bullying and violence, with unclear results: every six years, the built structures are discarded or copied without changing the underlying structures. For instance, protocols for “preventing, attending to, and sanctioning violence” in general or against women in schools and universities have functioned in some institutions due to community participation and authorities’ willingness to make changes, even if it meant challenging personal interests. In others, they are mere simulations due to the persistence of authoritarianism, favoritism, and complicity.
The Importance of a National Strategy
Instead of hiding behind promises and populist rhetoric, authorities should recognize the state’s obligation to ensure a violence-free present and future for children, adolescents, and young adults. They should work on a genuine national strategy to promote appropriate prevention programs across the country over the long term (10-20 years). Building a community and teaching equal, respectful, collaborative, and empathetic relationships cannot be achieved in a single year or six-year term.
To ensure the solidity and continuity of an effective public policy, both human and economic resources are necessary. The Congress – which owes us much – could take advantage of the PPEF 2026 discussion to promote a real violence prevention policy and fulfill its obligation to provide optimal learning and personal development conditions for future generations as full citizens.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main issue discussed? The article addresses the rising violence in Mexican schools and the need for effective prevention strategies.
- Why is school violence a concern? School violence is linked to broader societal issues such as inequality, discrimination, and permissiveness in hostile environments.
- What has been the response to school violence? Authorities have made declarations about ensuring security and promoting good coexistence, but these measures have proven ineffective.
- What is the proposed solution? The article advocates for a long-term national strategy with sufficient resources to implement effective violence prevention programs in schools.
- What role can the Congress play? The Congress could use the PPEF 2026 discussion to promote a genuine violence prevention policy and ensure optimal learning conditions for future generations.
