Overview

• Mandatory rules took effect nationwide on August 20, requiring clean uniforms, appropriate haircuts, proper personal presentation and a respectful salute at entry for public school students.
• The memorandum states that failure by school directors to implement the measures will be treated as a serious administrative offense subject to sanctions.
• President Nayib Bukele publicly endorsed the policy and shared the minister’s memo on X, framing it as part of a broader transformation of the education system.
• Karla Trigueros, a medical doctor and armed forces captain recently appointed as education minister, has visited schools in military uniform to oversee implementation.
• The Education Ministry launched an online portal for citizen complaints as teacher organizations voiced divergent views, with some backing stricter discipline and others warning of militarization and potential abuses.