Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has ordered his Cabinet ministers to ignore the education reforms put in place by the previous administration while congress tries to work out replacement legislation.

López Obrador sent a memorandum Tuesday saying the reforms he promised to repeal upon taking office should no longer guide government actions. He said congress is trying to reach consensus with teacher unions and parents on new legislation.

His instructions also said the treasury ministry will control the teachers' payroll.

The constitutional reforms passed under President Enrique Peña Nieto aimed to modernize Mexico's public education system and take control from the powerful teachers' unions.

Former supreme court justice José Ramón Cossío said via Twitter that López Obrador's move would be easily challenged in court.