El Salvador is cracking down school discipline. President Nayib Bukele has appointed a former army captain, Karla Trigueros, as education minister. She has started inspecting schools wearing army fatigues. Ms Trigueros is also a physician and was head the country's vaccination logistics the coronavirus pandemic. One her first edicts was to require all school principals to become role models. School heads will be required to greet students as they come the school gates each morning. They will also scrutinize pupils' haircuts and uniforms. Trigueros warned schools that: "Failure to comply with these provisions...will be considered a serious breach administrative responsibility."
The main focus El Salvador's new education initiative is appearance and conduct. particular, boys are required to have closely-cropped, military-style haircuts, while all students must wear tidy uniforms and greet all teachers respectfully. There has been mixed reaction to the new policy. A leading teachers' union called it a "regrettable militarization" schools. It was concerned that the country was veering back to the days military dictatorship. It said: "We are concerned that the already [endemic] abuses power students will increase." However, many parents are supportive the new rules. One said: "That's how you straighten children from a young age."
