Autonomous University of Nuevo León

Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering

ESSAY ABOUT EDUCATION SYSTEM IN

THE MEXICO
Leonardo Byron Corpus Rodriguez
1656255
IMTC
M4-M6
Monday – Friday
Living room: VIR13
Group: 004
Semester February – Julio 2021

Professor GUILLERMO ROBERTO ROSSANO PEREZ

University City, July 7, 2021

 Different levels
Mexico’s education law defines three main levels of education: basic education
(educación básica), upper- secondary education (educación media superior), and
higher education (educación superior). Each level of education is further
subdivided as follows:

• Educación Basica (Basic Education)

1. Educación Preescolar (early childhood education): Ages 3–6
2. Educación Primaria(elementary education): Grades 1–6
3. Educación Secundaria(lower-secondary education): Grades 7–9

• Educación Média Superior (Upper Secondary Education): Typically

grades 10–12
1. Bachillerato General (general academic)
2. Bachillerato Tecnológico (technological education)
3. Profesional Técnico (vocational and technical education)

• Educación Superior (Higher Education)

1. Técnico Superior (post-secondary/associate/diploma)
2. Licenciatura (undergraduate and first professional degrees)
3. Postgrado (graduate/postgraduate education)

Public and private systems

Public schools in Mexico

In Mexico, basic education is normally divided into three levels: primary school
(ages six to 12), junior high school (ages 12 to 15) and high school (ages 15 to
18). Throughout all three levels of schooling, attendance is compulsory.

Public schools in Mexico are free of charge and secular. Unfortunately, the
schools are often underfunded and lacking in resources. This is especially true in
rural areas, with urban centres being only somewhat better.

Because of these disadvantages, public schools aren’t really a viable option for
expat children. That said, expat children who are fluent in Spanish, or those young
enough to pick the language up easily, may benefit from attending public school
for half the day, followed by home-schooling in the afternoon.

Private schools in Mexico

Although there are many private schools in Mexico, they are mainly concentrated
in the big cities. Most private schools offer a good standard of education, but there
are some exceptions and it pays to be cautious.

When considering a private school, it’s best to ensure that it is accredited by the
relevant authorities and visit the school to see its quality first-hand. Parents are
advised to meet with teachers and check the curriculum to determine suitability.
International schools in Mexico

For most expats, international schools are the ideal solution. These schools offer
foreign curricula taught in English or the home language of the school’s country of
origin. This not only makes for an easier transition academically, but also provides
children with a sense of familiarity. However, parents should be aware that these
schools tend to be expensive. Expats moving to Mexico for work may want keep
this in mind when negotiating their relocation package.

Most international schools in Mexico are located in large cities, such as Mexico
City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. British and American, as well as German,
French and Japanese international schools are available in Mexico.

Evaluations
The governance of schools is largely decentralised with states taking most
responsibility as school providers. This follows the 1992 National Agreement for
the Modernisation of Basic Education signed between the federal government, the
state government and the National Union of Education Workers, which transferred
the operation of federal basic education to state governments. However, the
federal government through the Secretariat for Public Education (SEP) is
responsible for national education policy and the overall strategy for the education
system. The SEP regulates areas such as funding, evaluation and administration
of education personnel. It retains normative authority to assure the uniformity of
education services across the country and guarantee their national character.
Other major players include the National Council of Educational Authorities
(CONAEDU), which assumes responsibilities for educational planning and co-
ordination of decision making among the federal government and the states; the
National Institute for Educational Assessment and Evaluation (INEE); the National
Assessment Centre for Higher Education (CENEVAL); the National Council for the
Evaluation of Social Development Policy (CONEVAL); and the National Union of
Education Workers (SNTE). Major features of the Mexican education system
include: the dominance of half-day schooling; the difficult social contexts faced by
schools; a deficient school infrastructure; numerous challenges facing the
teaching profession; the limited school autonomy; and the considerable funding
inequities. Student learning outcomes in Mexico are considerably below the
OECD average in spite of some progress in the last decade. There are also
concerns about strong social inequities in the school system. Major reforms were
launched in recent years including the Comprehensive Reform of Basic Education
(RIEB), the National Assessment of Academic Achievement in Schools (ENLACE)
and a range of targeted federal educational programmes.

Admission tests
Admission criteria at Mexican HEIs vary greatly, depending on the program and
demand. Completion of upper-secondary education is usually the minimum
criterion, but entrance examinations and high school GPAs are typically used to
select students. Many universities require a minimum grade average of 7 or 8 out
of 10, but top institutions may require a higher minimum. Certain university
departments may also require that students have completed high school
programs in a track related to the program of study.

In addition, some less selective institutions have open enrollment policies. Older
students who did not complete high school may gain admission into federal HEIs
by taking a national high school equivalency exam. However, most large
universities that are not administered by the federal government, including private
autonomous universities, have their own admissions tests. There’s a national
higher education entrance examination called EXANI-II, but while growing
numbers of HEIs are admitting students based on this exam, it’s presently used
only for certain programs. The number of students sitting for the exam has
increased from about 419,000 in 2006 to 740,000 in 2017. Some universities may
also use a Spanish version of secondary school examinations designed by the
College Board, which in the U.S. are used as a kind of admissions examination.

Grading scales
There’s no nationwide credit system in Mexico, and not all Mexican HEIs,
particularly private ones, indicate credits on their academic transcripts. However,
Mexico’s Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions (ANUIES)
in 2007 put forward a credit system called SATCA (Sistema de Asignación y
Transferencia de Créditos Académicos). This system defines one credit unit as 20
hours of “learning activities,” and determines the minimum number of credits
required for a licenciatura program as ranging from 180 to 280 credits, depending
on the length. However, it should be noted that the new system is being
implemented only slowly, and that not all public institutions use it. Autonomous
universities most commonly use a scale that defines a credit as one hour of
classroom instruction over the course of a semester.

Grading scales vary between HEIs as well. The table below shows three
commonly used scales, including the WES conversion. Seven is the passing
grade on many undergraduate scales, but a grade of 8 may be the passing score
at the graduate level.

Curricular and extracurricular activities

Children in Mexico are just as busy as children in the States, if not more. Mexican
parents like to keep their kids active in after school classes and programs.
Particularly in the urban areas of Mexico, it is close to impossible to find a kid who
doesn't have any after-school activities.

Sports and Dance Classes

Soccer is Mexico's most popular sport. Both boys and girls play on teams,
although generally there are more boys teams. Tournaments give kids many
opportunities to compete. Swimming classes, ballet classes and hip-hop dance
are also the usual stops for after-school activities. Most schools, whether public or
private, offer some type of after-school team sports.

Music Classes

Guitar, violin and singing classes are all the rage in Mexico. Kids often form
bands, and strut their stuff in the Mexican equivalent of Battle of the Bands and
their schools' talent shows. Girls often sing in a chorus, either through their school
or their place of worship.

Tutoring

English classes, in particular, are a popular after school activity. Many students
get some type of English instruction over the course of their school day. Yet, a
great number of parents want their children to be bilingual in English, and hire an
after school English tutor to help their child. Math and science tutoring are another
standard option.

Student's life stuff

Students usually have to spend between U$ 500 and U$ 800 per month to pay for
food, transportation and lodging. As you probably expect, most of a student´s
budget goes directly to paying rent. It is for this reason that many students prefer
to split the cost with others. Utility costs, including the internet, are pretty
insignificant, and the same goes for the cost of drinking water.

It can be very affordable when you keep track of your expenses. In most
universities, meals are quite cheap and feature typical Mexican fare that’s so good
that many people from surrounding areas dine in cafeterias regularly. You can buy
a lunch for less than $ 3. Buying groceries such as fresh produce is much easier
than in other parts of the world, and if you really want to get the most bang for
your buck and also enjoy the experience, you should visit mercados or public
markets as much as possible. They are also great places to grab a quick snack or
some freshly squeezed juice.

Even when you have a reasonably tight budget as a student, you can shop smart
and buy vegetables and fruit at the public market each week for under U$ 20. This
is good news for those who would lure to continue to cook their favourite dishes.

Going for a night out on the town is much less expensive when compared to other
major cities. You can really choose what type of experience you would like to
have. You can stop by a pulqueria to have a drink of this relatively low alcohol
plant-based drink that comes in all kinds of delicious flavours. A pitcher of pulque
costs around 3 dollars and a bottle of beer is usually a dollar fifty in most bars and
night clubs. Bars, in general, are quite reasonably priced, and the same can be
said for many dance clubs, even those that are in so-called fancier
neighbourhoods like Zona Rosa near Insurgentes and Reforma, and even
downtown.
Bibliography
https://www.allianzcare.com/en/support/health-and-wellness/my-expat-life/school-
guides/schools-in-mexico.html
https://wenr.wes.org/2019/05/education-in-mexico-2
https://classroom.synonym.com/after-school-activities-in-mexico-12080966.html
https://www.expat.com/en/guide/north-america/mexico/mexico/21672-student-life-
in-mexico-city.html
https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/oecd-reviews-of-evaluation-and-
assessment-in-education-mexico-2012/school-education-in-
mexico_9789264172647-4-en