El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has announced a nationwide ban on the use of inclusive language in all public schools, a move that has sparked heated debate across Latin America.

Bukele said the decision aims to protect the Spanish language and shield children from what he called “external ideologies.” Education Minister Karla Trigueros, a former Army captain, echoed that sentiment, stating the policy would ensure “proper use of our language” while preserving “traditional values” in education.

The directive forbids the use of words like amigue, compañere, niñe, and nosotrxs—gender-neutral forms often used to include nonbinary individuals. Officials have instructed schools to remove any educational material containing such terms.

Critics argue the measure is part of a broader effort to impose ideological control over classrooms. Teachers’ unions have voiced concern over what they describe as the “militarization” of education, pointing to stricter dress codes, daily inspections, and discipline rules implemented under Trigueros’ leadership.

Experts also warn that banning inclusive language could stifle cultural expression and limit open discussions about gender identity in a region where linguistic inclusivity has become a growing movement.

With this latest decree, El Salvador joins countries like Argentina and Peru, where inclusive language has also been restricted in public institutions.