Dkisane,That is an absolutely FANTASTIC find!I have been...

Dkisane,

That is an absolutely FANTASTIC find!

I have been dreaming of this!

As we all know, Prersident Calderon launched the Safe Schools Program 13 months ago - in July 2007.

However, they adopted a 'softly, softly' approach to implementation. I think, politically, the Government was being very cautious due to the strength of the civil liberties lobbies.

So what they did was virtually hand the program over to the States - to take the heat off them. They encouraged the testing, but would not enforce it.

Over the last year, only one (of 31) State has embraced the program - Nuevo Leon. And we know it is going well there. And we are patiently waiting for an order from there.

Just recently, a couple of other States have indicated that they will commence testing in the 2008-09 year.

All this seems to have given the Feds the political confidence to 'repromote' the program (they have been quiet for so long). Perhaps some funds have been earmarked from the recent anti-drugs Merida funding arrangement with the US.

BUT MOST EXCITINGLY, they have clearly decided to take a leaf out of Nuevo Leon's book and extend the implementation of the program in PRIVATE schools as well as public. Hence the increase from 8,000 to 14,000 schools.

Looks like they have been impressed by the NL pilot. Perhaps NL have been the 'guinea pigs' to test the water. That being successful, the feds now want a piece of the action.

Whatever the reason, this is OUTSTANDING NEWS that the feds are now back behind the program.

Hopefully we will get more details soon.

Cheers for the find!!