Mexican parents criticise ending school year a month early for World Cup

The federal government faces widespread anger for saying the school year could end on 5 June to accommodate the football tournament.

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Education Secretary Mario Delgado said the school year would end on 5 June, leaving parents across the country with less than four weeks to find additional childcare.

After parents' and employers' associations objected, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum appeared to soften the announcement, describing it as a "proposal".

Mexico, along with the US and Canada, is due to host the international football tournament from 11 June to 19 July.

Delgado's announcement on Thursday cited both elevated traffic due to the World Cup and extreme heat forecast to hit the Latin American nation as factors in the decision to end the school year early, which he said was made "unanimously" with individual states.