Violence, insecurity, and the pandemic: notes on the possibilities of "virtual education" for early childhood in Tierra Caliente (Warm Land), Michoacán, Mexico

Tierra Caliente, in Michoacán, Mexico, is a region with serious problems of insecurity and violence. This is an area where agricultural production is very significant, particularly lemon cultivation, but where several organised crime groups operate. The illegal collection of quotas from agricultural producers is common. Physical aggression is also common among the various groups fighting for the collection of quotas, in addition to controlling the transfer of illegal substances. This situation has had multiple consequences, some of which are linked to the formal and informal education of girls and boys of different ages. For example, this school year, which began in September 2023, several schools were unable to start classes. On the other hand, in 2020, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, a long period of closure began, which implied the search for alternative ways of teaching classes in very complex conditions. Taking into account the problem of public insecurity as well as the situation of confinement resulting from the pandemic, the purpose of this presentation is to give an overview of the educational needs of young children and the possibilities of using virtual media for teaching. On the basis of a questionnaire applied to teachers of early childhood education, the focus is on some localities and schools in Tierra Caliente, Michoacán.