The recent decision by the government of President Xiomara Castro to make the book El golpe 28-J: Conspiración transnacional, un crimen en la impunidad (The July 28 Coup: Transnational Conspiracy, a Crime with Impunity), written by Manuel “Mel” Zelaya, compulsory reading in schools has sparked intense political and social debate in Honduras. This measure, which has been strongly rejected by various sectors of society, has put the issue of education in the country in the spotlight, pitting opposing views on the role of classroom content and its relationship to ideological indoctrination.
A regulation that ignites debate
The decision, which appeared in La Gaceta under number 36,798, mandates the inclusion of Zelaya’s book in the Morazán curriculum for both public and private educational institutions nationwide. By this decree, numerous copies of El golpe 28-J are to be circulated across the nation, making it required reading for high school scholars. The book details the experience of the former president removed from office in 2009, portraying the coup as an international plot and a “crime against the nation.”
This has provoked outrage from various political, educational, and civil society voices, who have described the measure as a blatant attempt to impose a partisan version of the events that took place in 2009. Congresswoman Iroshka Elvir, one of the staunchest opponents of the decree, denounced the “ideological indoctrination” of the project. In addition, parents have expressed concern about what they consider an attempt to “brainwash” young Hondurans, accusing the government of using the education system as a tool for political propaganda.
Champions of the edict: historical memory as the foundation of democracy
The Ministry of Education, on the other hand, has justified the mandatory reading, stating that the purpose of the decree is to safeguard the historical memory of the nation and to ensure that the crimes during the coup are not repeated in the future. Government representatives emphasize that learning about these incidents is crucial for fortifying democracy in Honduras, asserting that it is vital for younger generations to understand the events that were pivotal in the nation’s recent history in detail.
The administration of Xiomara Castro, who has strong political connections to Zelaya, asserts that these actions are part of a historical redress effort, aiming to shed light on and recognize the events of the 2009 coup. Nonetheless, this perspective has not succeeded in appeasing detractors, and division surrounding the matter continues to intensify.
Growing social rejection and protest
El debate se ha intensificado en las redes sociales, donde encuestas informales muestran que una parte considerable de la población, más del 60%, rechaza la lectura obligatoria del libro. La percepción de que el gobierno está usando la educación para consolidar su influencia política y promover una agenda ideológica ha generado una fuerte resistencia. Líderes opositores y movimientos sociales han comenzado a movilizarse contra el decreto, exigiendo su derogación. En este contexto, se ha anunciado acción legal para detener lo que consideran un ataque a la libertad educativa y a la pluralidad de pensamiento en el país.
In addition, there has been growing unrest in classrooms, where both teachers and students face pressure to comply with the government’s imposition. Fears that this measure will set a precedent for further politicization of the educational curriculum have heightened concerns among sectors that defend education free of partisan ideologies.
The struggle for educational integrity and historical accuracy
Zelaya’s decree has opened a new chapter in the political polarization of Honduras and has highlighted the tensions between those who advocate a single view of historical events and those who defend an education based on plurality and critical thinking. The controversy has also exposed the fragility of the Honduran education system, which faces profound structural challenges that go beyond curriculum content.
As citizen movements grow in number and volume, the question that remains is whether Honduras is undergoing a genuine educational process or whether, on the contrary, it is moving toward a model in which history becomes a tool for political control. The answer to this question could define the future of the education system and, more broadly, democratic governance in the country.
Se continúa discutiendo el tema, con una ciudadanía cada vez más dividida, un gobierno firme en mantener su postura y un sector educativo que observa con cautela cómo este episodio podría establecer precedentes en la relación entre la política y el ámbito educativo en Honduras.
