Education in Mexico, invaded by corruption within the teaching profession

May 15, 2024

For more than twenty years, teaching work has been tainted by the transparency of the process for educators seeking to obtain a formal job within the public education system in Mexico

by Xochitl TC

In Mexico, those people who seek to become teachers at the basic or upper secondary educational level must meet the requirements stipulated by the Ministry of Public Education (SEP), the most important being having a bachelor’s degree in education or some other area of teaching, for example. for example, history, literature or mathematics, as indicated in the last call of the System Unit for the Career of Teachers (USICAMM), which belongs to the same government body.

How many teaching positions are granted each year in Mexico?

According to press release number 137 issued by the SEP on July 12, 2023, for the 2022-2023 school year, 125,509 places were assigned, which highlighted that the designation of said jobs was for the “purpose to prioritize the best interests of girls, boys, adolescents and young people to contribute to access to their right to education and guarantee the provision of educational services.” However, different local media in the state of Puebla, Mexico, have focused their attention on an act of corruption within the teaching profession that – according to the authorities of the Mexican Government – can no longer be possible.

Case of sale of teaching positions in Tezuitlán, Puebla, Mexico.

Through the news outlet El Sol de Puebla, a group of teachers recently graduated from universities and normal schools in the region of Tezuitlán, Puebla, Mexico, made a public complaint against a teacher who belongs to the National Union of Education Workers , identified as “Samuel N”. The teacher in question belongs to section 51 of said organization and also “in his capacity as a union representative, he requested official documents and a payment of approximately 100 thousand pesos to 100 people, who were defrauded in their attempt to enter the educational service of the Ministry of Public Education (SEP)”, stated the newspaper in its digital version.

How much does it cost to be a teacher in Mexico?

Covering the expenses of a university teaching career in Mexico are high. Students must travel from their homes to the study center and if they are lucky they can travel within their own locality and in other cases, they must move to the capital of the country (Mexico City) or their entity to train as teachers; However, the amount invested in basic needs such as food, materials, practices, buses and payment for services such as Internet, will depend on the federal entity where they are located. The specialized financial supplement Dinero en Imagen indicated that “from its gastronomy to its educational proposal, each city in Mexico offers something different for young university students, and the regional differences are reflected in the cost of living” and for that reason, the Young university students invest approximately between 600 and 700 pesos per month.

After graduating, what’s next?

Those graduates of degrees in education or specialized teaching who wish to become professors assigned to the SEP must participate in a contest to assign a teaching position and it is through USICAMM that those interested “will compete on equal terms; “It will be public, transparent, equitable and impartial, in which the knowledge, skills and experience necessary for the learning and comprehensive development of students will be appreciated and ensure the hiring of personnel that meets the necessary professional profile,” this declaration cites said decentralized office of the SEP as part of its annual selection process for the admission of teachers.

In contrast to the admission processes that seek to be carried out in accordance with the law and transparency, there are testimonies that indicate the opposite.

A corrupt practice for more than 20 years

Originally from a municipality located in the northwest of the state of Michoacán, teacher Estela Ibáñez shared with El Reportero her experience in seeking better working conditions within the teaching of basic education in the public system. “I have been working in the public education system for 30 years and once tried to change schools to be closer to my town. At that moment I was able to realize that in the system there is a character called “coyote”, who was or, if they follow these practices, is the manager who “carries and brings” the teacher’s official documentation with the Education Union”, he said.

Likewise, she shared that “when I had the need to distance myself for a time from my duties as a teacher in front of a group, I had to find out what procedures I had to carry out and I first tried to change school campus and they told me that if I decided to do so I would have to pay an amount of 30 thousand pesos (approximately 1800 dollars). “I decided not to opt for a change of staff, but to request a leave of absence for six months and my payment was evidently suspended,” she argued. However, once her leave ended and she returned to her job as a teacher, “I had to give them a month of my salary so that my payments could be made normally, that is, that they would pay me my fortnights as they usually did before my license,” he said.

The sales practice that persists until this six-year term.

It was during the second year (2019) of the government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, that the then head of the SEP, Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, declared that “the sale of teaching positions and extortion of teachers persisted, because in these practices senior managers of the education union and the SEP itself participate” and, unfortunately, it is a practice that has persisted throughout Mexico, that is, it has occurred for more than two decades in the 32 entities of the country.

Despite the attempts of the Government of the Republic to affirm that the sale of places no longer exists in Mexico, it is the testimonies of teachers that portray the reality that exists to this day.

How many teachers are there in Mexico?

The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) is the body in charge of carrying out demographic censuses in Mexico and through the latest National Occupation and Employment Survey (ENOE), carried out in 2020, it showed that there were 1.2 million people with an occupation. as a basic education teacher, with 69.9% women and 30.1% men.

Jessica Soria, a preschool educator from the state of Jalisco, stated that she had to pay the equivalent of 9 thousand dollars to be placed in a basic teaching position, that is, a permanent job within the SEP, and due to His need to have a permanent job did not matter that the position was granted to him in the neighboring state of Nayarit.

On the other hand, Professor Juan Reyes from the Tierra Caliente area of Michoacán, shared that “although the vacancies are open to the general public and meet the academic profile requested,” the price of being a teacher in Mexico is high, since “that practice has not stopped. People must pay between 14,000 and 18,000 dollars to “buy” their workspace and start a teaching career in the federal education system,” he lamented.

Why is it so attractive to join the SEP as a teacher?

The issue of legal benefits plays an important role for those seeking to enter the SEP and pursue a teaching career or only enter as administrative personnel. Although the salary disparity is evident, because the lowest salary is 180 dollars per month; These days, Mexicans are looking for a job that provides them with job security, to have the right to medical service, vacation bonus, bonus, annual bonus, retirement, among others.

In contrast, stories standout such as those of Mr. Carlos López, who died in 2021 due to a respiratory illness and who unfortunately was not able to leave his 3 minor children a child’s pension. He was an administrative worker in one of the sections of the SEP in Veracruz and during the 4 years that he worked, he only worked in the office. The statute of State workers indicates that only “those minors whose parents have completed -at least- 5 years working within the federal worker system may have the right to a child’s pension.” Mr. Carlos, like other members of the SEP, had to cover a fee of 14 thousand dollars to pay for his work space.

The federal government regarding the sale of teaching positions

Óscar Flores, head of the Administration and Finance Unit of the SEP, stated last February during the morning conference of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador that “in the current administration efforts have been made to redirect resources for the benefit of the workers of education, increasing income, benefits and also, the basicization of more than 945 thousand people.

For his part, AMLO indicated that his government “does not want to sell positions or traffic with the teachers’ payroll, no one is allowed, even if they are the most extreme left or right, no one is allowed, in the country there are no longer tolerated corruption.”

Given the latent facts, these are the testimonies of people who have claimed to have resorted to purchasing a teaching position, because beyond the corruption that remains among high-ranking officials of the SEP, the great need to tell comes to light. with a job in line with legal benefits.

Five first steps to start a company

May 10, 2024

Man hanging an open sign at a local supermarket — Happy Latin American man hanging an open sign at a local supermarket and smiling - reopening of business

Learn to dance Tango at the Berkeley City Club

May 10, 2024

by Magdy Zara

If you want to learn to dance Argentine tango, this is your opportunity. Instructor Luz Castiñeiras will be teaching three master classes, with which you will learn the most beautiful things about this elegant and complicated dance.

To access the classes it is not necessary to be a member or have prior knowledge, just feel the desire to dance and show up any Wednesday.

Instructor Castiñeiras will begin by teaching a beginner class on the fundamentals of tango, followed by an intermediate class focused on the rhythm of the milonga.

Luz is a master of the milonga, both as a leader and a follower. In milonga class, she explains the differences between body movement in tango and milonga, which apply to even the most basic steps. She also shows us some of the super fun milonga figures from her repertoire.

The tango sessions with Luz Castiñeiras are every Wednesday starting May 15, at the Berkeley City Club, starting at 7 p.m., their cost ranges between $10 and $20. For more information through info@labrujatangoberkeley.com and www.labrujatangoberkeley.com.

The Berkeley City Club is located at 2315 Durant Avenue Berkeley,

Cuban rapper Telmary performs SF

Telmary is a Cuban rapper, musician and spoken word artist, who together with her band offers her unforgettable show of music, culture and inspiration.

Her music effectively united two worlds that seemed separate, combining musical genres, breaking down cultural barriers and connecting people of different backgrounds and languages.

From Havana, Cuba, street poet Telmary has become a leader and tastemaker at the forefront of hip-hop and urban music in Cuba.

As a rapper, Telmary uses her distinctive voice, sometimes deep and soulful, sometimes fast and aggressive, to proclaim a positive and empowering message that contrasts with the commercial norm of the genre.

This rapper will light up the stage at Freight and Salvage, this Wednesday, May 15, starting at 8 p.m., at Freight & Salvage, located at 2020 Addison Street, Berkeley.

San Mateo County Fair reaches its 90th edition

The San Mateo County Fair is a tradition rooted in the Bay Area for 90 years, offering a variety of entertainment, exhibits and food options for visitors of all ages.

The Fair celebrates the rich culture and diversity of San Mateo County and is a highlight of the summer season.

This year, the fair promises to be bigger and better. than ever, with new attractions and surprises that will surely delight attendees of all ages.

One of the new features at the fair this year is the Great American Duck Racing, a fun and exciting event that promises to entertain both children and adults.

Additionally, Toytopia takes guests on a nostalgic interactive journey through the world of toys, featuring both classic and modern favorites. This exhibit will captivate young minds with engaging exhibits and hands-on activities.

The fair will also feature its beloved attractions, including pig races, a butterfly exhibit and an incredible concert program. Artists scheduled to take the stage include Iam Tongi, Remember When Rock Was Young – An Elton John Tribute WAR. Super Diamante – Tribute to Neil Diamond, All-4-One, Queen Nation, Banda Arkangel, Banda Los Lagos and La Gran Sonora, as announced by Dana Stoehr, executive director of the San Mateo County Fair and Event Center .

The fair will be held June 1-9 at the San Mateo County Events Center, located at 1346 Saratoga Drive, San Mateo, CA 94403.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.sanmateocountyfair.com

“Social Revolution or Reconstruction”: The unknown mural of José Clemente Orozco in Orizaba, Veracruz

May 10, 2024

José Clemente Orozco is one of the so-called three greats of Mexican muralism. However, some of his great works are still not well known. Discover the mural of him in the Municipal Palace of Orizaba!

by Mexico Unknown

After the great military campaigns that shook the country during the Mexican Revolution, the construction of the new regime began, that of the Revolutionary State. Muralism was part of the cultural mystique of that historical period, and without a doubt José Clemente Orozco was one of its great protagonists. He painted various murals, some very well known, but others not so much. One of them is the one found in the Municipal Palace of Orizaba, Veracruz.

Vasconcelos’ cultural crusade

Once the strongest turbulence of the armed stage of the Mexican Revolution, between 1910 and 1920, was over, the rise of the new state institutions would come. For the president of Mexico, General Álvaro Obregón, an area of special interest was education. For this, he appointed José Vasconcelos as Secretary of Public Education in 1921.

Taking advantage of the support received from the presidency as well as the resources of his government ministry, Vasconcelos promoted a large-scale educational crusade during his administration, in order to spread culture in the country, with popular education programs, rural schools, book publishing. and promotion of art and culture. The goal was to integrate Mexico into the great changes that occurred in the world, starting from the significant events of the beginning of the 20th century: the First World War, the Russian Revolution and the Mexican Revolution itself, among some others. One of the most famous and specific objectives of this campaign was to educate the majority of the country’s population to read and write.

Muralism

It is in this way that one of the flanks that Vasconcelos decided to address was that of the plastic arts, by using them as a means of disseminating universal knowledge. In 1921, the Secretary of Public Education contacted Diego Rivera (who was in Europe) and other young Mexican painters, in order to make them part of his great cultural crusade and begin commissioning their first works. There is controversy about whose idea of the mural format was, but it is clear that the first great example of this is Rivera’s work “The Creation” (1922), carried out in the Simón Bolívar Antitheater of the UNAM National Preparatory School, in what is currently the Old School of San Ildefonso.

With this, the artistic movement of Mexican muralism began. Very soon the muralists rebelled against the directives of José Vasconcelos, embracing the social spirit of the Mexican Revolution; They also sought to develop a new national identity, arising from the vindication of local traditions and the indigenous peoples who inhabit Mexico. Several names began to stand out; one of them was José Clemente Orozco from Jalisco.

Hundreds of thousands of CA children dropped off Medi-Cal since last year

May 10, 2024

African American pediatrician listening to child lung and heart sound — African American male pediatrician with stethoscope listening to lung and heart sound of little boy sitting on mother lap, physician checkup at home or in hospital, children medical insurance care

by Suzanne Potter

Medi-Cal has dropped several hundred thousand low-income children from the health insurance rolls since April 2023, according to a new report from Georgetown University.

The data show a net drop in children’s Medi-Cal enrollment of 200,000 kids between April and December of last year, as the state started redetermining participants’ annual eligibility – which had been paused to ensure continuous coverage during the pandemic.

Mayra Álvarez, president of the Children’s Partnership, said another 100,000 have been dropped this year.

“Some 80 percent of the people that lose coverage in California are losing it for procedural reasons,” said Álvarez, “not because they’re not eligible but because their paperwork didn’t make it to the county, or they waited too long on the line and got frustrated and had to hang up, or they moved and the letter never even reached them.”

The state of California has made a massive outreach effort to keep those who are eligible covered.

More than half a million children, half of California’s kids, depend on Medi-Cal. And three quarters of them are children of color.

It is unclear how many kids who lost Medi-Cal were later enrolled in private coverage.

Joan Alker is a co-author of the report, and executive director of the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University. She said gaps in coverage can lead to long-term negative impacts.

“Kids are going to miss out on those well-child visits, they’re going to miss out on getting the medications they need,” said Alker, “be it an inhaler for their asthma or an ADHD medication. And that really sets them back, both in their health and their success in school.”

A few years ago, California lawmakers passed a requirement for continuous coverage in Medi-Cal for children ages zero to five.

Alvarez said she is urging them to follow through and allocate $10 million in the next state budget to fulfill this mission.

In other California News:

Can a comic coloring book help you avoid used car scams?

Consumer advocates find a new way to educate car buyers

Buying a used car can be a risky proposition but a new consumer guide can help people avoid common pitfalls.

The nonprofit Oregon Consumer Justice just released the first edition of its free resource called the Consumer Confidence Comics. The unique guide doubles as an interactive comic book with coloring pages.

Michelle Luedtke, communications director for Oregon Consumer Justice, said it is a fun way to learn how to ask the right questions.

“When you get promises from a dealer, where do you capture those to make sure that they’ll be part of your final contract?” Luedtke asked. “We have a checklist of different questions to ask at a dealer about purchasing a used car, you can also download as a resource on our website.”

The guide is available in English and Spanish. Used car prices shot up during the pandemic but have come down a bit in the last year, with the average used car selling for about $31,000, according to iseecars.com.

Luedtke also recommended taking the time to read the fine print on any contracts. The guide goes through the process from start to finish.

“Whether or not you should be looking for financing beforehand, or what dealer financing looks like? What are scams that are common around purchasing a vehicle,” Luedtke outlined. “And then also what to do if things go wrong.”

In 2022, Americans purchased about 39 million used vehicles. The website Statista projects used car dealers in California will pull in about $11.7 billion in revenue this year.