MEXICO CITY, June 27 – The Mexico City Congress is currently debating a legislative initiative aimed at compelling all private educational institutions operating without official recognition – colloquially known as “duck schools” – to explicitly and visibly declare their unofficial status in all promotional materials and official documents. This proposal, put forth by PAN deputy Claudia Montes de Oca del Olmo, seeks to amend Article 82 of the local Education Law to address existing legal gaps that have enabled the proliferation of educational centers without formal accreditation.
Proposed Reforms to Enhance Transparency
The initiative has been forwarded to the Commission of Education, Science, Technology, Innovation, and Artificial Intelligence for analysis and will be subject to a ruling before being presented to the full legislative body. Current legislation permits private entities to offer educational services in the capital, provided they adhere to legal stipulations and possess a Recognition of Official Validity of Studies (RVOE). However, the operation of private schools lacking this essential registration has become widespread across all educational levels, from basic to higher education.
The proposed reform mandates that educational institutions without an RVOE must include an explicit warning about their lack of official recognition in all forms of advertising, propaganda, and official documentation. This requirement would extend to enrollment certificates, digital media, websites, electronic platforms, and any institutional information disseminated. The primary objective is to prevent families and students from being misled about the legal validity of the studies offered. Many of these schools utilize social media and digital platforms for promotion, employing strategies to attract students without clearly disclosing their legal status regarding accreditation.
Furthermore, the initiative highlights that these institutions often charge for their services via electronic transfers or cash payments, frequently omitting tax receipts or formal contracts, thereby exposing users to significant legal and economic risks. The proposal stipulates that, prior to any enrollment or re-enrollment, schools without an RVOE must provide parents, guardians, or adult students with a signed receipt. This document must clearly identify the educational program, include an explicit declaration of the absence of official recognition, and bear the date and an autograph or electronic signature of the recipient.
Protecting the Right to Education and Ensuring Transparency
During a session of the Permanent Commission of the Mexico City Congress, Deputy Claudia Montes de Oca emphasized that clear, visible, and comprehensible disclosure regarding the lack of official validity is crucial for safeguarding the right to education. She asserted that such transparency would enable individuals contracting these services to do so with full knowledge of the situation, thereby preventing children, adolescents, and adults from pursuing studies whose legal standing could subsequently impede their access to higher education, entry into the labor market, or professional practice.
The phenomenon of “duck schools” has seen considerable growth in recent years. These institutions issue degrees, certificates, or academic documents without official backing, creating a false impression of legal validity. The initiative underscores that while current legislation imposes a minimal informational obligation, the reality demonstrates that merely “mentioning” the lack of recognition is insufficient. Consequently, the reform proposes that the warning be conspicuously displayed across all documentation and communication from these establishments.
The ongoing discussions in the Mexico City Congress aim to establish a more stringent framework to prevent abuses and protect those seeking access to private education. The reinforcement of Article 82 of the Education Law represents a significant step towards ensuring effective information dissemination and mitigating the proliferation of educational services operating without official recognition.
