Bill to undo education reform passes in Mexico’s lower house

MEXICO CITY – Mexico’s lower house has passed a measure that would overturn contentious elements of a 2013 education reform that was a key piece of legislation under then-President Enrique Peña Nieto.

The bill would eliminate teacher evaluations and return some power to unions. It goes to the Senate, where President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s allies have a majority.

López Obrador praised Thursday’s vote, saying: “This is one less problem” for the country.

The reform was promoted as an attempt to modernize education in Mexico. It imposed exams and evaluations on teachers and stripped unions of their longtime influence over hiring, salaries and promotions of teachers.

Critics of the reform said it failed to account for regional and historic inequalities. López Obrador had campaigned on overturning it during last year’s presidential race.