Latin American Herald Tribune: Mexicans between the ages of 15 and 29 will spend an average 6.4 years working and 5.3 years studying, according to a report released Tuesday by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
The study, Education at a Glance 2014, found that Mexico is the only country among the 34 OECD members where youth spend less time in school than on the job. Read more.
The MexicoBlog of the CIP Americas Program monitors and analyzes international press on Mexico with a focus on the US-backed War on Drugs in Mexico and the struggle in Mexico to strengthen the rule of law, justice and protection of human rights. Relevant political developments in both countries are also covered.
Showing posts with label Mexico education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mexico education. Show all posts
Sep 11, 2014
Oct 4, 2013
Women teachers in Mexico protest new restrictive education law
Womens News Network
Katherine Ronderos
October 3, 2013
Excluded from the debate on educational reform, women teachers in Mexico, who represent more than 96 percent of teachers in preschool, 66 percent in basic education and 51 percent in secondary school, are protesting against a new law that will affect them negatively, especially those working in rural and indigenous communities.
Mainly women teachers in the states of Veracruz, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Guerrero and Chiapas (Mexico) went on strike while more than 30,000 teachers from some of the country’s poorest states moved into Mexico City and set up camp in the Zócalo, the city center, for three weeks in September. They are protesting en masse after the government pushed through “secondary” laws aimed at reforming the Education Act, in particular aspects related to teachers’ careers. They are demanding that the government moderate its education reforms. Read more.
Katherine Ronderos
October 3, 2013
Excluded from the debate on educational reform, women teachers in Mexico, who represent more than 96 percent of teachers in preschool, 66 percent in basic education and 51 percent in secondary school, are protesting against a new law that will affect them negatively, especially those working in rural and indigenous communities.
Mainly women teachers in the states of Veracruz, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Guerrero and Chiapas (Mexico) went on strike while more than 30,000 teachers from some of the country’s poorest states moved into Mexico City and set up camp in the Zócalo, the city center, for three weeks in September. They are protesting en masse after the government pushed through “secondary” laws aimed at reforming the Education Act, in particular aspects related to teachers’ careers. They are demanding that the government moderate its education reforms. Read more.
Aug 26, 2013
Fighting Education Overhaul, Thousands of Teachers Disrupt Mexico City
The New York Times
August 24, 2013
By Karla Zabludovsky
Mexico’s highly anticipated education overhaul program — intended to weed out poorly performing teachers, establish professional hiring standards and weaken the powerful teachers’ union — is buckling under the tried-and-true tactic of huge street protests, throwing the heart of the capital into chaos.
A radical teachers’ group mobilized thousands of members in Mexico City last week, chasing lawmakers from their chambers, occupying the city’s historic central square, blocking access to hotels and the international airport, and threatening to bring an already congested city to a halt in the coming days.
These mobilizations, analysts said, suggest how difficult it may be for President Enrique Peña Nieto to get through this and other changes he has pushed since taking office in December, including an energy and telecommunications overhaul deemed vital to revving up the economy. Read more.
August 24, 2013
By Karla Zabludovsky
Mexico’s highly anticipated education overhaul program — intended to weed out poorly performing teachers, establish professional hiring standards and weaken the powerful teachers’ union — is buckling under the tried-and-true tactic of huge street protests, throwing the heart of the capital into chaos.
A radical teachers’ group mobilized thousands of members in Mexico City last week, chasing lawmakers from their chambers, occupying the city’s historic central square, blocking access to hotels and the international airport, and threatening to bring an already congested city to a halt in the coming days.
These mobilizations, analysts said, suggest how difficult it may be for President Enrique Peña Nieto to get through this and other changes he has pushed since taking office in December, including an energy and telecommunications overhaul deemed vital to revving up the economy. Read more.
May 2, 2013
Global labor protests mark May Day
USAToday
May 1, 2013
CHILPANCINGO, Mexico — Protesters armed with pipes, spray paint and slingshots marched through this state capital south of Mexico City, vandalizing public buildings to express opposition to teacher competency exams and the revoking of the right to sell their jobs to the highest bidder.
The Mexico teachers protest was among many demonstrations worldwide for May Day, a day when labor unions traditionally head to the streets to demand more pay and benefits and job protections. Read more. Read more.
May 1, 2013
CHILPANCINGO, Mexico — Protesters armed with pipes, spray paint and slingshots marched through this state capital south of Mexico City, vandalizing public buildings to express opposition to teacher competency exams and the revoking of the right to sell their jobs to the highest bidder.
The Mexico teachers protest was among many demonstrations worldwide for May Day, a day when labor unions traditionally head to the streets to demand more pay and benefits and job protections. Read more. Read more.
Apr 25, 2013
Striking teachers attack offices of major political parties in southern Mexico state
The Washington Post
Acapulco, Mexico — Striking teachers in Mexico’s Guerrero state attacked the offices of four political parties and a building of the state’s education department Wednesday after the legislature approved an education reform without meeting their demands.
Dozens of teachers carrying sticks and stones smashed windows, spray-painted insults at President Enrique Pena Nieto on walls and destroyed computers and furniture. They set fire to the state headquarters of the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party and another building.
No injuries were reported as the teachers, some masked, ran wild after a protest march in the state capital of Chilpancingo.
Minervino Moran, a spokesman for the strikers, said the attacks were in response to the approval by Guerrero’s legislators of legislation similar to a recently adopted federal education law that requires teachers to be evaluated and that seeks to remove control over hiring and firing from the teachers’ union. Read more.
Acapulco, Mexico — Striking teachers in Mexico’s Guerrero state attacked the offices of four political parties and a building of the state’s education department Wednesday after the legislature approved an education reform without meeting their demands.
Dozens of teachers carrying sticks and stones smashed windows, spray-painted insults at President Enrique Pena Nieto on walls and destroyed computers and furniture. They set fire to the state headquarters of the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party and another building.
No injuries were reported as the teachers, some masked, ran wild after a protest march in the state capital of Chilpancingo.
Minervino Moran, a spokesman for the strikers, said the attacks were in response to the approval by Guerrero’s legislators of legislation similar to a recently adopted federal education law that requires teachers to be evaluated and that seeks to remove control over hiring and firing from the teachers’ union. Read more.
Mar 6, 2013
Mexico wants U.S. ties to focus on economy, education, not drugs
Reuters
By Dave Graham
Mar 4, 2013
Mexico must give greater priority to economic cooperation and education in relations with the United States rather than allowing the fight against organized crime to take center stage, a senior Mexican official said on Monday.
Mexico has spent the past six years locked in a bloody fight with powerful drug cartels whose killings, kidnappings and extortion have marred the country's image, particularly in the United States, where it ships nearly 80 percent of its exports.
President Enrique Pena Nieto is keen to rewrite the script, focusing his efforts on the economy, which has grown at a faster pace than the United States' in the last three years.
Pena Nieto's conservative predecessor, Felipe Calderon, staked his name on crushing the gangs, but by the time he left office at the end of November nearly 70,000 people had died in the violence, and his efforts were widely condemned as a failure. Read more.
By Dave Graham
Mar 4, 2013
Mexico must give greater priority to economic cooperation and education in relations with the United States rather than allowing the fight against organized crime to take center stage, a senior Mexican official said on Monday.
Mexico has spent the past six years locked in a bloody fight with powerful drug cartels whose killings, kidnappings and extortion have marred the country's image, particularly in the United States, where it ships nearly 80 percent of its exports.
President Enrique Pena Nieto is keen to rewrite the script, focusing his efforts on the economy, which has grown at a faster pace than the United States' in the last three years.
Pena Nieto's conservative predecessor, Felipe Calderon, staked his name on crushing the gangs, but by the time he left office at the end of November nearly 70,000 people had died in the violence, and his efforts were widely condemned as a failure. Read more.
Feb 26, 2013
Mexico's Pena Nieto enacts major education reform
BBC News
February 26, 2013
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has enacted a major reform of the education system that includes new standards for hiring teachers.
Under the changes, a census is to establish the exact number of schools, teachers and pupils in the country.
The reforms appear set to weaken the powerful teachers' union, led by Elba Esther Gordillo, which has largely controlled access to the profession.
The union has argued that reforms could lead to massive lay-offs.
Critics also say the changes could signal the start of the privatisation of education in Mexico. Read more.
February 26, 2013
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has enacted a major reform of the education system that includes new standards for hiring teachers.
Under the changes, a census is to establish the exact number of schools, teachers and pupils in the country.
The reforms appear set to weaken the powerful teachers' union, led by Elba Esther Gordillo, which has largely controlled access to the profession.
The union has argued that reforms could lead to massive lay-offs.
Critics also say the changes could signal the start of the privatisation of education in Mexico. Read more.
Jan 17, 2013
Sweeping education reform approved in Mexico
HuffPost: January 16, 2013
MEXICO CITY — A plan to overhaul Mexico's public education system has been ratified by 18 of the country's 31 states, allowing it to be enacted by President Enrique Pena Nieto, officials confirmed Wednesday.
The law, which is backed by Pena Nieto and was approved by Congress in December, calls for creation of a professional system for hiring, evaluating and promoting teachers without the "discretionary criteria" currently used in a system where teaching positions are often bought or inherited.
"The goal of the reform is a quality education and for this there are two big things (needed): evaluating professional teachers and the body that will evaluate the system," said Sen. Juan Carlos Romero Hicks, president of the Senate's Education Commission who confirmed the reform's approval.
The plan, which has multi-party support, will move much of the control of the public education system to the federal government from the 1.5 million-member National Union of Education Workers, led for 23 years by Elba Esther Gordillo. Under the old law, she hires and fires teachers, and she has been accused of using union funds as her personal pocket book. Read more.
MEXICO CITY — A plan to overhaul Mexico's public education system has been ratified by 18 of the country's 31 states, allowing it to be enacted by President Enrique Pena Nieto, officials confirmed Wednesday.
The law, which is backed by Pena Nieto and was approved by Congress in December, calls for creation of a professional system for hiring, evaluating and promoting teachers without the "discretionary criteria" currently used in a system where teaching positions are often bought or inherited.
"The goal of the reform is a quality education and for this there are two big things (needed): evaluating professional teachers and the body that will evaluate the system," said Sen. Juan Carlos Romero Hicks, president of the Senate's Education Commission who confirmed the reform's approval.
The plan, which has multi-party support, will move much of the control of the public education system to the federal government from the 1.5 million-member National Union of Education Workers, led for 23 years by Elba Esther Gordillo. Under the old law, she hires and fires teachers, and she has been accused of using union funds as her personal pocket book. Read more.
Nov 27, 2012
Returning Migrant Children Pose Educational Challenge
Frontera NorteSur
November 25, 2012
In different migrant-sending regions of Mexico, educators are coping with the new challenge of teaching children of return migrants who speak little or no Spanish. In the north-central state of Zacatecas, for instance, 150 teachers began a crash course this month in English to help them communicate with new students coming from the United States.
Sponsored by the state education department, the class will consist of 60 hours of Saturday sessions, video-conferences and field work. Antonio Jacobo de Luna, Zacatecas under-secretary for educational planning and support, said the new teacher program is addressing the concerns of U.S.-based migrant clubs from Zacatecas that got in touch with state officials about the presence of young, primarily English speakers suddenly thrust into a Spanish-language learning environment. Read more.
November 25, 2012
In different migrant-sending regions of Mexico, educators are coping with the new challenge of teaching children of return migrants who speak little or no Spanish. In the north-central state of Zacatecas, for instance, 150 teachers began a crash course this month in English to help them communicate with new students coming from the United States.
Sponsored by the state education department, the class will consist of 60 hours of Saturday sessions, video-conferences and field work. Antonio Jacobo de Luna, Zacatecas under-secretary for educational planning and support, said the new teacher program is addressing the concerns of U.S.-based migrant clubs from Zacatecas that got in touch with state officials about the presence of young, primarily English speakers suddenly thrust into a Spanish-language learning environment. Read more.
Oct 29, 2012
Mexico is now a top producer of engineers, but where are jobs?
The Washington Post By William Booth, Published: October 28
MEXICO CITY — In an aggressive bid to move beyond low-wage factory jobs and toward an entrepreneurial economy, Mexico is producing graduates in engineering and technology at rates that challenge its international rivals, including its No. 1 trade partner, the United States.
President Felipe Calderon last month boasted that Mexico graduates 130,000 engineers and technicians a year from universities and specialized high schools, more than Canada, Germany or even Brazil, which has nearly twice the population of Mexico.
But it remains an open question whether the soaring number of skilled graduates will transform Mexico into the “country of engineers” that Calderon envisions, or they go to work in low-level managerial jobs at assembly plants owned by foreigners — jobs that have come to define their profession here.
“This idea that Mexico is a country of engineers is a mirage,” said Manuel Gil Anton, an expert in education policy at the College of Mexico. Read more.
MEXICO CITY — In an aggressive bid to move beyond low-wage factory jobs and toward an entrepreneurial economy, Mexico is producing graduates in engineering and technology at rates that challenge its international rivals, including its No. 1 trade partner, the United States.
President Felipe Calderon last month boasted that Mexico graduates 130,000 engineers and technicians a year from universities and specialized high schools, more than Canada, Germany or even Brazil, which has nearly twice the population of Mexico.
But it remains an open question whether the soaring number of skilled graduates will transform Mexico into the “country of engineers” that Calderon envisions, or they go to work in low-level managerial jobs at assembly plants owned by foreigners — jobs that have come to define their profession here.
“This idea that Mexico is a country of engineers is a mirage,” said Manuel Gil Anton, an expert in education policy at the College of Mexico. Read more.
Oct 19, 2012
Mexico's most powerful woman faults working mothers
LA Times, October 18, 2012.
MEXICO CITY -- She may be Mexico's most powerful woman, but she doesn't seem too keen on power for women.
Elba Esther Gordillo, the much-feared head of Mexico's gigantic teachers union, is blaming the abysmal state of education here on none other than working mothers.
In an "open letter to the public" covering two full pages of Mexico's leading Reforma newspaper, Gordillo seemed to rue the days decades ago when traditional family roles were clearly established (link in Spanish, registration required).
"A fact that was changed when women had to share responsibility for the family income, which didn't only contribute to the deterioration of the individual but also of society," Gordillo wrote.
"The abandonment of the mother in the rearing of children turned schools into daycare centers, gave teachers sole responsibility for education and emptied education of any substance," she added.
Gordillo went on to say that the void created by absent mothers working outside the home was filled with "the excessive consumption of junk TV" and similar distractions, which generally contributed to the demise of society's values.
Quite a lot to hang on working women, especially since most experts would blame Mexico's poor educational system on precisely the union that Gordillo lords over like a private fiefdom. Read more.
MEXICO CITY -- She may be Mexico's most powerful woman, but she doesn't seem too keen on power for women.
Elba Esther Gordillo, the much-feared head of Mexico's gigantic teachers union, is blaming the abysmal state of education here on none other than working mothers.
In an "open letter to the public" covering two full pages of Mexico's leading Reforma newspaper, Gordillo seemed to rue the days decades ago when traditional family roles were clearly established (link in Spanish, registration required).
"A fact that was changed when women had to share responsibility for the family income, which didn't only contribute to the deterioration of the individual but also of society," Gordillo wrote.
"The abandonment of the mother in the rearing of children turned schools into daycare centers, gave teachers sole responsibility for education and emptied education of any substance," she added.
Gordillo went on to say that the void created by absent mothers working outside the home was filled with "the excessive consumption of junk TV" and similar distractions, which generally contributed to the demise of society's values.
Quite a lot to hang on working women, especially since most experts would blame Mexico's poor educational system on precisely the union that Gordillo lords over like a private fiefdom. Read more.
Jun 22, 2012
Stagnant Wages May Decide Mexico's Election
Businessweek: Julio Don Juan makes $400 a month working at a noisy, cramped call center in Mexico City that counts major American companies among its clients. The 37-year-old hasn’t had a raise in three years, he says, and was forced to pull his son out of a special-needs school because he could no longer afford the tuition. “Because costs keep rising, I’m actually getting a pay cut each year,” says Don Juan, who lives with his parents. “We’re scraping by.”
The plight of millions of Mexicans stuck in similarly low-paying jobs is a major campaign issue ahead of a July 1 general election. Since 2005, wages in Latin America’s second-biggest economy have risen at an annual pace of just 0.4 percent adjusted for inflation, according to the International Labour Organization. In Brazil, wage growth averaged 3.4 percent over the same period. Read more.
The plight of millions of Mexicans stuck in similarly low-paying jobs is a major campaign issue ahead of a July 1 general election. Since 2005, wages in Latin America’s second-biggest economy have risen at an annual pace of just 0.4 percent adjusted for inflation, according to the International Labour Organization. In Brazil, wage growth averaged 3.4 percent over the same period. Read more.
May 7, 2012
Students Take Over City University in Michoacán
El Informador: Americas Program Original Translation
Members of the Coordinating University Students in Struggle (CUL) took over Ciudad Universidad campus facilities and the preparatory high school at the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo (UMSNH).
The measure, which came after the issuing of a detention order for 10 students involved in the burning of official vehicles, affects more than 50,000 students currently in the final phase of the school year.
It began in campus facilities and spread to the high schools in different parts of institution, including the Colegio de San Nicolás, where an event to commemorate the birth of Miguel Hidalgo is being held.
The members of the CUL are demanding the release of the 10 students being held responsible for the theft and burning of the vehicles on April 28. They are being held in David Franco Rodríguez Prison.
It will be recalled that yesterday, Sunday, upon the expiration of the constitutional term extension requested by the defense, the judge decided to release three detainees and declared an arrest warrant for another ten, between the ages of 19 and 22 years of age. See Spanish Original
Thus, students will have to face the charges of property damage as prisoners.
It should be mentioned that the state government announced its intention to appeal the release of the three young men who left the prison yesterday after deciding there is sufficient evidence to try them.
Translation by Michael Kane, Americas Program
Members of the Coordinating University Students in Struggle (CUL) took over Ciudad Universidad campus facilities and the preparatory high school at the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo (UMSNH).
The measure, which came after the issuing of a detention order for 10 students involved in the burning of official vehicles, affects more than 50,000 students currently in the final phase of the school year.
It began in campus facilities and spread to the high schools in different parts of institution, including the Colegio de San Nicolás, where an event to commemorate the birth of Miguel Hidalgo is being held.
The members of the CUL are demanding the release of the 10 students being held responsible for the theft and burning of the vehicles on April 28. They are being held in David Franco Rodríguez Prison.
It will be recalled that yesterday, Sunday, upon the expiration of the constitutional term extension requested by the defense, the judge decided to release three detainees and declared an arrest warrant for another ten, between the ages of 19 and 22 years of age. See Spanish Original
Thus, students will have to face the charges of property damage as prisoners.
It should be mentioned that the state government announced its intention to appeal the release of the three young men who left the prison yesterday after deciding there is sufficient evidence to try them.
Translation by Michael Kane, Americas Program
Mar 12, 2012
Mexico Politics: "We need an Education Model that Teaches for Progress"
La Jornada- "During his presentation of the results of the Progressive Movement’s Public Education Meeting, the former president of UNAM, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, highlighted what is necessary to fundamentally transform the education system. He said it starts with a change in the teaching model to replace the rote and inertial techniques which have been utilized in the country for decades and adding teachers, removing the union mindset without affecting their labor rights.
'We need a new education model that teaches for progress, productivity, peace, tolerance, and coexistence; one that stimulates creativity, strength, discipline, and group work,' said De la Fuente, who confirmed that he had accepted Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s offer to be head of the Ministry of Education if the latter wins the presidency.
At a press conference after the meeting, asked if the change would cover the teachers’ union and if its application was even feasible with Elba Ester Gordillo as head of that organization, he said it would be “serious to personalize a problem as complicated as education to just one person.”
As to whether or not Gordillo could be convinced in subsequent meetings, De la Fuente said that the teacher union leader “has her own party” in which she will make her own proposals regarding education.
However, he said the new model requires teachers’ participation, who would be invited to participate, because without them “the background transformation that we want” could not be achieved.
De la Fuente explained that the education system was experiencing a 'critical, delicate situation,' and cautioned that if a better quality system was not constructed 'it’s not likely that these problems will be resolved.'” Spanish original
'We need a new education model that teaches for progress, productivity, peace, tolerance, and coexistence; one that stimulates creativity, strength, discipline, and group work,' said De la Fuente, who confirmed that he had accepted Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s offer to be head of the Ministry of Education if the latter wins the presidency.
At a press conference after the meeting, asked if the change would cover the teachers’ union and if its application was even feasible with Elba Ester Gordillo as head of that organization, he said it would be “serious to personalize a problem as complicated as education to just one person.”
As to whether or not Gordillo could be convinced in subsequent meetings, De la Fuente said that the teacher union leader “has her own party” in which she will make her own proposals regarding education.
However, he said the new model requires teachers’ participation, who would be invited to participate, because without them “the background transformation that we want” could not be achieved.
De la Fuente explained that the education system was experiencing a 'critical, delicate situation,' and cautioned that if a better quality system was not constructed 'it’s not likely that these problems will be resolved.'” Spanish original
Feb 11, 2012
Human Rights Violations: Normal School director in Nuevo Leon accuses students of being "Anonymous" terrorists for using internet to complain about the school
La Jornada: "The director of the Normal School Michael F.Martinez, (in the northern state of Nuevo Leon) Carla Adriana Tijerina, made criminal accusations against three students for being related to the hacker network Anonymous, which she described as "a global terrorist organization," arguing that Anonymous distributed a videotape in which it calls for an end to injustices on the campus .
Ivan Fernandez, president of the student organization, Jaziel Carmona and Mauricio Garcia appeared on January 9 before Gabriela Tamez, of the Centre for Orientation and Police Reports, the prototype of the new accusatory system, in which the state prosecutor agencies are combined.
Students said the problems began when the student organization opened an account on Facebook to serve as a forum and to organize sports, cultural and artistic activities. Tijerina was upset because students began to raise complaints, such as the disappearance or loss of payment records and lack of maintenance in the school. One student complained that because she is pregnant and unable to perform certain activities, the director scolded her, saying that "you should have thought before opening your legs."
Fernandez said they had to cancel the account, because the director threatened them, "For problems like this you can lose privileges." Anonymous took up the complaints, made a video and put it on the Internet, demanding an end to retaliation against the students." Spanish original
Ivan Fernandez, president of the student organization, Jaziel Carmona and Mauricio Garcia appeared on January 9 before Gabriela Tamez, of the Centre for Orientation and Police Reports, the prototype of the new accusatory system, in which the state prosecutor agencies are combined.
Students said the problems began when the student organization opened an account on Facebook to serve as a forum and to organize sports, cultural and artistic activities. Tijerina was upset because students began to raise complaints, such as the disappearance or loss of payment records and lack of maintenance in the school. One student complained that because she is pregnant and unable to perform certain activities, the director scolded her, saying that "you should have thought before opening your legs."
Fernandez said they had to cancel the account, because the director threatened them, "For problems like this you can lose privileges." Anonymous took up the complaints, made a video and put it on the Internet, demanding an end to retaliation against the students." Spanish original
Feb 8, 2012
Mexico Education: New film shows Mexico's failing education system
AP/SanFrancisco Chronicle: "Mexican teens can't solve long-multiplication problems. Education authorities don't know how many teachers work in Mexico. Teachers often miss class, and some who do show up have long conversations on their cellphones. This is the harsh reality of Mexico's education system, both public and private, as displayed in a new documentary titled "De Panzazo!" — roughly meaning "Barely passing."
Directed by filmmaker Juan Carlos Rulfo and journalist Carlos Loret de Mola, the film blames the deficiencies of Mexican schools on teachers unions and on government officials who give in to the unions' pressure to avoid changes in the system." read more
Directed by filmmaker Juan Carlos Rulfo and journalist Carlos Loret de Mola, the film blames the deficiencies of Mexican schools on teachers unions and on government officials who give in to the unions' pressure to avoid changes in the system." read more
Feb 7, 2012
Mexico Youth: 600,000 young people leave their studies each year
Milenio: "The Deputy Secretary for Secondary Education called the desertion of the students who join the productive sector a great "drama" because--despite the efforts of the federal government--each year 600,000 young people drop out." Spanish original
Dec 25, 2011
Mexico Education: Only 60 percent of Mexican students conclude sixth grade
Translated by MexicoBlog
This means that on average four out of ten children entering primary school drop out or fail, according to the study "Goals: The state of education in Mexico 2011," done by the Mexico First Association. This shows that the percentage of coverage does not mean that children maintain a constant pace in their studies, because in the course of elementary school, many drop out and some fail or don't enroll in middle school, so that universal access to education does not guarantee staying enrolled or progressing according to the students' corresponding age.
Thus, for every 100 children entering elementary school at six years, more than 50 percent cannot enter middle school, ... And worse, in high school, only 45% of young people achieved graduation." Spanish original
Dec 12, 2011
Mexico Economy: Youth without Work or Studies Curb the Progress of Mexico
Translated by MexicoBlog
"The 'Ninis' can become a problem of social implosion, and at some point a problem of politics and governability," said political analyst Sabino Bastidas. To not help these young people is to facilitate the decline in the active labor force that had the opportunity to "bring an historic shift to Mexico but instead contributed nothing." The so-called 'demographic dividend', as the high number of young people of productive age is known, is being 'thrown overboard'," said Bastidas.
Mexico has 36.2 million young people, which equals 32% of the population,according to the National Youth Survey 2010. On average, according to an OECD report released in September, one in four young Mexicans does not study or work, which means that about seven million do not perform any productive activity.
"We have teachers who are not trained, ... and we don't have the necessary schools; the quality of the schools is in last place," said Sabino, who acknowledged that there is already broad educational coverage, but the challenge is to promote quality.
In his Fifth Government Report (like the U.S. President's State of the Union address), President Felipe Calderón highlighted that in Mexico there is universal coverage for primary school education. However, coverage in middle school is 68% and for high school it is only 32.4%." Spanish original
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