President López Obrador’s actions focused on the creation of more public universities, the cancellation of the educational reform of his predecessor, Enrique Peña Nieto, and above all, on the scholarship delivery, whose results have not been reflected during the six-year term.
Specialists agree that although these programs contribute to strengthening education, they have resulted insufficient measures to combat school dropoutsbecause they have not been accompanied by other policies that resolve the problems of the educational system nor have they been accompanied by an adequate budget.
Education budget
Contrary to what is required, educational spending has decreased during this administration and remains as one of the lowest among 38 countriesaccording to the OECD’s Education Outlook 2024 report.
In 2015, investment in education was equivalent to 5.08% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and fell to 4.6% in 2018, the last year of the previous government. By 2021, it fell further, to 4.16%, behind the OECD average of 4.91%.
“This decline will likely have a greater impact on communities with greater social disadvantage,” warned Mexicanos Primero, an organization dedicated to education, regarding the OECD report.
At all school levels, the country maintains an investment below other nations. For example, the expenditure per boy or girl in education from the Early childhood is 2,804 dollars in Mexico. In contrast, The OECD average is $11,735 per student, four times more.
