La Jornada: Emir Olivares Alonso
The university's analysis puts into context the problems faced every year by the thousands of students who are not accepted into public institutions of higher education. Just on Wednesday, UNAM released the results of its first admission exam for the class of 2013, which shows that of the 126,753 students who took the exam, 10,916 were selected, equivalent to 8.6 percent, even though for more than ten years the university has been increasing the number of spots available through the exam, from 12,558 enrolled in the 1999-2000 school year to 17,721 for 2012-2013.
The procedures implemented by the government to increase enrollment at this academic level have concentrated on two strategies: the creation of technological and polytechnic centers, as well as remote and virtual options, and the continued growth of private institutions "of extremely varied ability and quality, without much regulation by the government," says the report.
In contrast, key initiatives should concentrate on increasing the number of educational opportunities for a greater number of young adults, primarily in disadvantaged regions and social groups, and on significantly improving their educational options.
The analysis—coordinated by UNAM Dean José Narro Robles—notes that while it is true that in the past four decades enrollment at this academic level has increased thirteen-fold, and from 2.1 million students in 2000 to to 3.3 million in 2012, such efforts are insufficient.
Today, higher education covers 34.6 percent of young adults, that is, only three out of ten young people of college age (19 to 23) can attend.
- More than 70 experts carried out an analysis of the national education system
- UNAM submitted proposal with suggestions to President and Congress
The small number of young people who have access to higher education in Mexico is not just an educational or economic challenge, but a social problem.
"Those excluded from high school and above are continuously exposed to serious risks, including crime, illegal activity and addiction."Thus states the National Education Plan: Ten Proposals for Ten Years, developed by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), submitted last December and sent to the President and Congress with the intent that it be taken into account while developing public policies on educational matters.
"Higher education is a public good with social gains, not a commercial good or commodity, as the World Trade Organization claims. Its function is to train citizens to enter into different spheres of society—knowledge, the values of democratic coexistence, work—and not only the job market. This stresses that public universities are a central responsibility of the state."The document—in which more than 70 experts carried out an analysis of the whole national education system—suggests that the current goals of higher education in the country are: significantly increase its reach (only three in ten college age adults are able to attend), improve quality, reduce regional inequalities in terms of access, and guarantee adequate funding.
The university's analysis puts into context the problems faced every year by the thousands of students who are not accepted into public institutions of higher education. Just on Wednesday, UNAM released the results of its first admission exam for the class of 2013, which shows that of the 126,753 students who took the exam, 10,916 were selected, equivalent to 8.6 percent, even though for more than ten years the university has been increasing the number of spots available through the exam, from 12,558 enrolled in the 1999-2000 school year to 17,721 for 2012-2013.
The procedures implemented by the government to increase enrollment at this academic level have concentrated on two strategies: the creation of technological and polytechnic centers, as well as remote and virtual options, and the continued growth of private institutions "of extremely varied ability and quality, without much regulation by the government," says the report.
In contrast, key initiatives should concentrate on increasing the number of educational opportunities for a greater number of young adults, primarily in disadvantaged regions and social groups, and on significantly improving their educational options.
The analysis—coordinated by UNAM Dean José Narro Robles—notes that while it is true that in the past four decades enrollment at this academic level has increased thirteen-fold, and from 2.1 million students in 2000 to to 3.3 million in 2012, such efforts are insufficient.
Today, higher education covers 34.6 percent of young adults, that is, only three out of ten young people of college age (19 to 23) can attend.
The total population of this age group is around 10 million, out of which more than 7 million young adults are not in school.This percentage places Mexico far below the levels of developed countries and even those with a similar economic situation, like Argentina, Brazil and Chile. Spanish original