Mexico City Schools Just Added Nahuatl to the Curriculum—And It’s About Time

For the first time, public schools in Mexico City are offering Nahuatl as an elective subject. The government of Mexico City, in collaboration with the federal government, has launched this initiative across 78 schools. It aims to preserve and revitalize the most widely spoken Indigenous language in Mexico. According to the Mexican government’s official site, this program will allow students in primary and secondary schools to learn Nahuatl. They will have the potential to achieve an advanced level by the time they finish middle school.

During the International Mother Language Day celebration, Mexico City’s Head of Government, Clara Brugada Molina, emphasized that this initiative seeks to position Nahuatl as a source of pride for younger generations. She noted that in addition to Spanish, there are over 55 Indigenous languages that people speak in Mexico’s capital. “These languages are a testament to the greatness and history of Mexico’s peoples. Especially Nahuatl, which is the most widely spoken Indigenous language in our city and our country,” Brugada stated in the government’s report.

Why Nahuatl? Advocates Say It’s More Than Just a Language

Nahuatl has deep historical roots. It was the language of the Mexica (Aztec) civilization. And 1.6 million people across Mexico speak it today, according to INEGI (National Institute of Statistics and Geography) data from 2020. Despite this, the language has faced centuries of marginalization, and critics have questioned whether teaching it in schools is worthwhile.

Some opponents argue that learning global languages like English, French, or German would be more beneficial for students in the job market. Others doubt whether Nahuatl should be a priority in a modern education system. However, linguistic experts and cultural advocates strongly defend the program. Renato García, a linguist at the Institute of Anthropological Research at UNAM, explained to La Cadera de Eva that the erasure of Indigenous languages has been a long-standing issue in Mexico’s education system.

He pointed to the early 20th-century policies of José Vasconcelos, Mexico’s first Secretary of Education, who promoted visualization and linguistic homogeneity as a way to construct a “mestizo” national identity. “There was a systematic push to castellanizar (Spanishize) education in Mexico. This led to the decline of Indigenous languages,” García explained. He also emphasized that linguistic diversity is crucial, not just for cultural preservation. But for broadening our understanding of human knowledge.

Schools in Mexico Are Following a Global Trend

Mexico’s push to teach Nahuatl in schools aligns with efforts seen in other parts of the world. According to Publimetro México, Paraguay has successfully implemented a bilingual education system with Guaraní. Similarly, Spain has policies to protect and promote Catalan and other regional languages. Advocates of the Mexico City initiative argue that the right to learn and speak an Indigenous language should be as fundamental as the right to learn Spanish or English.

Linguist and TikTok educator Adrián Chávez, who has gained recognition for his work promoting Nahuatl and Indigenous linguistic rights, also weighed in. Chávez dismissed the idea that teachers shouldn’t educate students on a language at risk of extinction. He calls this argument a misconception. “The main reason Nahuatl is disappearing is precisely because it hasn’t been taught in schools,” Chávez stated, according to Publimetro México. He described the learning of any language—especially Indigenous ones—as a gateway to understanding a different worldview and cultural heritage.

Nahuatl Is Everywhere—Even If We Don’t Realize It

Nahuatl is already deeply embedded in Mexican culture and everyday life. Many place names in Mexico City, such as Xochimilco, Tlalpan, and Chapultepec, come from Nahuatl. Even common Spanish words like tomate (tomato), chocolate, and aguacate (avocado) have Nahuatl origins. Despite this, SEPI (Mexico City’s Secretariat of Indigenous Peoples) reports that many Nahuatl speakers have historically been discouraged from using their language in public, fearing discrimination.

Now, government officials hope to change that. Nelly Antonia Juárez, head of SEPI, emphasized that the goal is to move Nahuatl out of private spaces and into public life. “This program is about reclaiming Indigenous languages and making them visible. It’s time for these languages to be heard in public spaces, schools, and institutions—not just within families or isolated communities,” she stated, according to the Mexican government’s report.

Is Nahuatl Education Here to Stay? The Challenges Ahead

While public opinion has widely praised the initiative, concerns remain about its long-term sustainability. Some critics question whether Mexico City has enough trained Nahuatl teachers to meet demand. Others worry about how the curriculum will be structured and whether students will receive the same level of support as they do for other language programs, such as English.

According to Infobae, Brugada acknowledged these concerns but reassured the public that this program is part of a broader commitment to Indigenous language preservation. She also suggested that the initiative could expand to more schools in the future. “We are governing for six years. If students start in middle school, they could graduate speaking advanced Nahuatl. We’re also starting in primary schools, meaning we are creating a new generation of Nahuatl speakers,” she stated.