Overview
- Industry and child-rights groups reported Monday that more than 140 violent incidents have been recorded in Mexican schools since 2020, a pace of about 2.2 a month.
- The National Ballistics Council said sales of bullet-resistant backpacks have climbed from 5–10 units a year to about 30, with a 12% increase projected for 2026.
- The backpacks use a panel designed to stop handgun fire and typically cost 12,000 to 15,000 pesos, according to CNB’s John Valbuena.
- Surveys and hospital records show wider harm in schools, with 30,700 teens reporting physical assaults in 2021 and steep increases since 2010 in psychological and sexual violence cases.
- Officials back anti-bullying and school-safety programs, yet experts say tight budgets block upgrades, and some authorities plan broader social media monitoring after online threats reached dozens of campuses.