Why Education?
The importance of education for national development and stability is indisputable. More basically, a good education empowers individuals to make a better life for themselves and their families. In Mexico, where 26% of the population lives on less than $2 a day, education can play a leading role in freeing the poor from crippling privation.
Recent improvements in Mexico’s education system are laudable, but incomplete. Foundation Escalera believes that education is critical both for individual opporunity and national betterment, and futher considers that increasing access to a good high-school education, thus opening the doors to a college degree, is where Mexico’s students need the most help.
The contribution of lack of education to inequality in Mexico is the second highest in Latin America, after Brazil. Education accounts for hte largest share of earning inequality in Mexico, far more than such factors as age, sector of employment, hours worked or position held in the workplace. Furthermore, the importance of education has been increasing over time as the country’s economy has faced a continually increasing demand for high-skilled labor that has not been met by increased supply.
In the past several years, Mexico has seen positive increases in enrollment rates and educational spending but spending per student remains very low. Specifically, 24% of public spending is invested in education and although this share is almost twice the OECD* average level (13%), in absolute terms, this translates in to spending per student that is only at 1/3 the OECD average.
It was not until 1992 that Mexico’s government increased compulsory education from primary school (grade six) to lower secondary school (grade nine). Even so, only 35 of every 100 students who enter elementary school will continue their schooling past secondary school and graduate from high school. Far fewer continue on to study at the University level. In fact, only 8% of the population aged 19 and older holds a bachelor’s degree.
Additionally, Mexico has seen little progress over the years in increasing educational attainment relative to past generations. While Mexico has fallen from rank 28 to 30, last among the OECD countries, South Korea, during that same time period has jumped from rank 23 to 1 in its population’s educational attainment. Today, only 25% of 25 to 34 year-olds have completed a base-line qualification at the high-school level in Mexico.
We belive the problem faced by students in Mexico is not one of barriers to entering the University so much as it inadequate access to high schools that sufficiently prepare them to pass college entrance exams and earn government scholarships. Almost paradoxically, the Mexican government provides ample aid and scholarship programs to students entering public Universities, spending three times more on students at the tertiary level (post high school) than students at any other educational level.
Nevertheless, students find it difficult to continue their schooling after middle school. Rural students are particularly disadvantages as attending high school requires them to journey to the nearest city, which ads burdensome transportation costs to the families who often need their children at home to work to contribute to the family income. Foundation Escalera’s need-based scholarships are meant to address the challenges aspiring high-school students face. We believe the excellent education Benemerito provides enables our students to find a brighter future.
* Mecixo is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an international organization of 30 developed countries that accept the principles of representative and free market economy.
