Mexican president starts process to scrap education reforms

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has signed an initiative that would cancel the controversial education reforms of his predecessor.

It was one of Lopez Obrador's most oft-repeated campaign promises and a gift to teachers' unions. Some felt forced into accepting the reforms while others never dropped their vocal opposition.

The education reforms were written into the constitution, so Wednesday's initiative goes to the Congress and then state legislatures. Lopez Obrador's coalition controls both chambers of the Congress.

Proponents of the reforms lauded them as an important step toward improving accountability and quality within Mexico's underperforming public schools.

But the demand for tests and evaluations of educators angered teachers and critics said the reforms didn't address the historic regional inequality in schools.