Mexico to purge nonworking teachers from payroll

FILE - In this Friday, March 8, 2019 file photo, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador answers questions from journalists at his daily 7 a.m. press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City. Lopez Obrador said he sent a letter to Spain and the Vatican on March 1, asking them to apologize for the conquest of the Americas five centuries ago. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte, File)

MEXICO CITY – Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador says his government will conduct a census to determine which teachers are working and purge the rest from the payroll.

Speaking in the western state of Michoacan, the president gestured with a thumb Saturday to indicate that any "freeloader" found on the payroll will be tossed.

López Obrador plans to federalize education rather than allocate school funds to states. The president said some governors spend federal money earmarked for education on other things and then ask for more money.

López Obrador said that "we are going to bring order."

Michoacan suffered paralyzing rail blockades in January by striking teachers demanding back pay from the state government.

The crowd booed Michoacan Gov. Silvano Aureoles, who appeared alongside López Obrador on Saturday.