El Salvador's Military-Style School Discipline Crackdown

El Salvador is cracking down on school discipline.

The new education minister is a former soldier.

She has started inspecting schools in army uniform.

She is also a doctor.

She asked all school principals to be role models.

They must greet students every morning.

They will also check pupils' haircuts and uniforms.

She warned: "Failure to comply with these provisions…will be considered a serious breach of...responsibility."

The focus of the new initiative is on appearance and conduct.

Boys must have military-style haircuts.

All students must wear neat uniforms and greet all teachers.

There has been a mixed reaction.

A teachers' union called it a "regrettable militarization" of schools.

It worried the country could become a military dictatorship.

It worried abuses of power against students might increase.

However, many parents support the new rules.