Education in Mexico

Education in Mexico is regulated by the Secretariat of Public Education (Spanish: "Secretaría de Educación Pública", SEP. In English: Secretariat of Public Education). Educational standards are set by this Ministry at all levels except in "autonomous" universities chartered by the government (e.g. UNAM). Accreditation of private schools is accomplished by a mandatory approval and registration with this institution.

The 1917 Constitution provides that education should avoid privileges of religion, and that one religion or its members may not be given preference in education over another. Religious instruction is prohibited in public schools; however, religious associations are free to maintain private schools, which receive no public funds. Proof of Mexican citizenship is required to attend public schools.

Education stages

The Mexican school system is organized into "Basic Education", "Secondary Education" and "Higher Education" components as follows....

Basic Education comprises preschool, primary school, and lower secondary school. Preschool covers children aged three through five and is generally provided in three grades. Preschool is free.

Primary education provides at least six years of schooling and is compulsory upon the states to provide free education from age six. There are several educational pathways, for specific population groups, including general education, bilingual-bicultural education, community education for children in the isolated regions of the country, and (4) adult education.

Lower-secondary education (3 years) is considered part of basic education and is compulsory upon the states. For entry, students are required to have successfully completed six years of primary education.

Secondary Education: Upper-Secondary Education is separate from Basic Education. This stage is non-compulsory upon the states and has three pathways: General upper-secondary, Technical professional education, and Technological upper-secondary.

Contrary to popular American belief there are no compulsary school attendance laws in Mexico. In Mexico, "compulsary education" means it is compulsary upon the states to provide for it. It is important to understand that Mexico comprises 31 states and a federal district, and these jurisdictions pass their own laws so long as they don't conflict with federal laws.

The state of Sonora provides 12 years of free public education for its young people.

Higher education: There are four pathways of higher Education in Mexico: (1) Universities (4-5 year colleges and universities, called the licenciatura), (2) Technical institutes (3-year programs in engineering and management), (3) Teacher-training colleges, offering bachelor's degrees in the fields of education, and (4) Technological universities, offering two-year programs to prepare students as Higher University Technicians

chool grades

Level / Grade, Age (Years old)

*Pre-School, Nursery School
*Kindergarten, 5–6; beginning of "basic" education ("educación básica").
*"Primaria" (Primary School)
**1st Grade, 6–7
**2nd Grade, 7–8
**3rd Grade, 8–9
**4th Grade, 9–10
**5th Grade, 10–11
**6th Grade, 11–12
*"Secundaria" (Middle school)
**First grade, 12–13
**Second grade, 13–14
**Third grade, 14–15
*"Bachillerato" or "Preparatoria" (Secondary school)
**First Semester, 15; middle school and high school education ("educación media superior").
**Second Semester, 15–16
**Third Semester, 16
**Fourth Semester, 16–17
**Fifth Semester, 17
**Sixth Semester, 17–18
** There are some "2- year Bachilleratos", which can be completed in four semesters.
*University; beginning of "higher" education ("educación superior")
**Four or five years leading to a "Licenciatura" (Bachelor's degree)
*Postgraduate
**Two to three years leading to a "Maestría" (Master's Degree)
**Three or more years after the completion of a "Doctorado" (Master's degree, leading to a Doctor of Philosophy.

ee also

* Telesecundaria, secondary online education in Mexico

ources

*cite book | first=Reyes | last=Tamez Guerra| authorlink=Reyes Tamez Guerra | title= [http://www.sep.gob.mx/work/appsite/princif2003/Princcif2003.pdf Sistema Educativo de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos. Principales cifras, ciclo escolar 2003-2004] | location=Mexico City | publisher=Dirección General de Planeación, Programación y Presupuesto Secretaría de Educación Pública | year=2004 | id=ISBN 968-5778-12-4
*Department of State (2004). [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/35546.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2004. Mexico] . Washington, D.C.: Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.
*US Department of Education (2003) [http://www.ed.gov/offices/OUS/PES/int_mexico.html Education around the World: Mexico.]

External links

*es icon [http://www.sep.gob.mx/wb2/ SEP homepage]