El Salvador Bans “Inclusive Language” in Public Schools
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele announced a ban on “inclusive language” in all public schools nationwide via his X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday. The decision was accompanied by a post from Education Minister Karla Trigueros, a military official.
According to Minister Trigueros, the measure aims to ensure the “good use of our language” and shield students – encompassing early childhood, childhood, and adolescence – from “ideological interference” that could hinder their development. She stated she has issued instructions to enforce the ban across all public educational institutions and related facilities.
A memorandum circulated by an Army captain and shared on X details the prohibition, specifying that terms considered “linguistic deformations” linked to gender ideology – such as alternatives to “friend,” “companion,” or “child” – will not be permitted.
This move follows an earlier announcement in February 2024 by then-Education minister José Mauricio Pineda, who declared that all instances of ”gender ideology” had been removed from the public school curriculum. This initial action occurred after President Bukele addressed the issue during a visit to the United States.
Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland, Bukele responded to a question from Catalina Stubbe, Hispanic Coordinator of the Moms For Liberty association, emphasizing the importance of not only excluding “gender ideology” from the curriculum but also ensuring parents are informed and have a say in their children’s education.
