Organized crime and public schools in Ecuador

Abstract

This editorial explores how Organized Crime Groups (OCG) have deeply infiltrated Ecuadorian society, severely impacting the public education system. Since the neoliberal reforms of 2018, poverty, unemployment, and violence have surged, creating fertile ground for OCG expansion. These groups recruit children and adolescents, especially from marginalized areas, taking advantage of school dropout and family abandonment. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened the situation, pushing hundreds of thousands of students out of the education system. Teachers face threats, extortion, and aggression, leading to resignations and transfers. Schools, once safe spaces, have become battlegrounds between the state and organized crime. The article concludes that the lack of educational and employment opportunities makes OCGs an appealing alternative for youth who see no future.