Mexico

Kristina Wiemann works as an academic researcher in the Faculty of Business and Social Education at the University of Cologne

Editorial ......................................................................................................... 3
Basic data [2016] .......................................................................................... 10
United Mexican States/Estados Unidos Mexicanos/MX ....................................... 10
Main economic focuses [2016] [in %] ................................................................ 11
Economic output [2016] .................................................................................... 11
Index of abbreviations ................................................................................... 12
Introduction .................................................................................................. 22
1.Country-specifi c context ............................................................................. 25
1.1 General social and cultural conditions ...................................................... 25
1.2 General political and legal conditions ....................................................... 29
1.3 General economic conditions ................................................................... 32
2. Typical vocational education and training processes or
training programmes ................................................................................. 41
2.1 Learning in the informal sector ................................................................. 41
2.2 School-based training and the difficult entry to the labour market ............ 42
2.3 Elite academic training ............................................................................. 43
3. Overview of the educational system .......................................................... 45
3.1 Historical and current development ............................................................. 48
3.2 Governance and financing ............................................................................ 50
3.3 Structure .................................................................................................. 55
3.3.1 Right to education and mandatory schooling ............................................ 55
3.3.2 School attendance .................................................................................... 56
3.3.3 The Mexican Qualifi cations Framework .................................................... 57
3.4 Brief characterisation of the different educational sectors and
types of school .......................................................................................... 59
3.4.1 Early years education [Educación Inicial] ................................................. 59
3.4.2 Basic education [Educación Básica] .......................................................... 60
3.4.3 Upper secondary education [Educación Media Superior] ......................... 66
3.4.4 Vocational orientation [Orientación Vocacional] ...................................... 68
3.4.5 Special schools/special schools system [Educación Especial] .................... 68
3.4.6 Tertiary education [Educación Superior] .................................................. 69
3.4.7 Adult education [Educación para Adultos] ............................................... 72
Table of Contents 6
3.4.8 Distance study and distance learning [Modalidades no escolarizadas y
Programas a Distancia] ............................................................................ 73
4. Initial and continuing vocational education and training .......................... 75
4.1 Development and signifi cance of vocational education and training ......... 75
4.2 Structure of vocational education and training and provision ................... 77
4.3 Summary of forms of provision and the training programmes
aligned to them ........................................................................................ 78
4.3.1 Vocational upper secondary school leaving certifi cate
[Bachillerato Tecnológico and Profesional Técnico Bachiller] ................... 78
4.3.2 Mexican model of dual vocational education and training
[Modelo Mexicano de Formación Dual] .................................................... 81
4.3.3 Technologist [Tecnólogo] ......................................................................... 86
4.3.4 Higher technician [Técnico Superior Universitario] .................................. 86
4.3.5 In-company training [Capacitación] ......................................................... 87
4.3.6 Continuing and advanced vocational education and training and
preparatory courses [Capacitación para y en el trabajo]............................ 89
4.4 Recognition of competences acquired by non-formal and
informal means ........................................................................................ 90
5. Important general conditions and factors determining
vocational education and training ............................................................. 93
5.1 Legal standardisation of VET and school-based and
company-based training ........................................................................... 93
5.2 Governance structures in VET and school-based and
company-based training ........................................................................... 95
5.2.1 Governance structures in the national education system ........................... 95
5.2.2 Governance structures of company-based VET activities ........................... 98
5.2.3 Further stakeholders ................................................................................ 99
5.3 Financing of VET and training .................................................................. 100
5.4 Training of VET staff ................................................................................. 102
5.4.1 Teachers at vocational schools .................................................................. 102
5.4.2 In-company trainers ................................................................................. 107
5.5 VET research ............................................................................................ 108
5.6 Procedures for quality assurance in VET ................................................... 110
5.6.1 Educational reporting and educational indicators ..................................... 110
5.6.2 Securing quality of provision in educational institutions ........................... 111
5.6.3 Educational standards and certifi cation .................................................... 113
5.7 International mobility/internationalisation/international VET
cooperation .............................................................................................. 114
5.7.1 Mutual recognition of qualifi cations and international mobility ................ 114
5.7.2 Multilateral institutions ............................................................................ 115
5.7.3 German-Mexican VET cooperation ........................................................... 116
5.7.4 Training activities undertaken by German companies ............................... 118
5.7.5 German education and training providers ................................................ 120
5.7.6 Further international cooperation agreements ......................................... 121
5.8 Major approaches to reform in VET .......................................................... 122
5.8.1 Development of a national competence system via PMETyC,
PROFORHCOM and El Nuevo CONOCER (1994–approx. 2013) ............... 124
5.8.2 RIEMS (since 2008) ................................................................................. 125
5.8.3 PROFORHCOM (2014–2021) ................................................................... 125
6. Bibliography .............................................................................................. 127
7. Further information ................................................................................... 142
7.1 Legal foundations, training regulations, curricular materials .................... 142
7.2 Addresses ................................................................................................. 143
7.3 Internet addresses .................................................................................... 144
Organigram of the educational system (general education and
vocational training including higher education) ........................................... 146
Index of keywords ......................................................................................... 148
Author ........................................................................................................... 149