Delgado Cites Constitution Following Student's Death at Militarized Academy

The death of Dafne Zapata, a student at a militarized academy in Tamaulipas, has drawn a direct response from Mexico's top education official. Secretary of Public Education Mario Delgado stated that the Mexican Constitution prohibits such institutions and that the responsibility for authorizing them lies with state governments, not the federal department.

Dafne Zapata died under circumstances that are now the subject of a criminal investigation. Her mother has testified that the girl suffered four days of torture and died from water accumulation in her lungs. Three individuals — Danna Yanina 'N', Jorge Luis 'N' and Estrella 'N' — have been arrested and are facing charges related to the death. A judge has granted a constitutional duplicity of term to resolve the defendants' legal situation and has ordered the parties to refrain from public comment to preserve the integrity of the process.

Delgado said the SEP tried to speak with the victim's mother but was unable to reach her, reportedly on the advice of her lawyers. He emphasized that the 32 state education secretariats, not the federal ministry, are responsible for issuing operating permits to schools, including militarized academies like the one involved in the case.

What the Constitution Says About Militarized Schools and Who Is Responsible

A Constitutional Ban

Delgado's statement points to Article 3 of Mexico's Constitution, which mandates that education be democratic, national and respectful of human rights. Military-style discipline regimes that conflict with those principles are, in his interpretation, unconstitutional. While the Constitution does not explicitly name “militarized schools,” the legal argument casts a shadow over dozens of private academies that operate with military formats across the country.

State-Level Oversight Under Scrutiny

By highlighting that state education authorities grant the permits, Delgado effectively shifts the accountability to local governments. This could pressure states to review existing permits and shut down institutions that violate human rights guarantees. In Tamaulipas, where the tragedy occurred, the state education secretariat may face calls to explain how the academy was licensed and what oversight it performed. The case is likely to fuel a broader national discussion on the regulation of private schools that adopt military discipline models.