Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, announced that by the end of 2026 the government will create 200,000 new spaces in upper secondary education (high school), as part of a broader effort to guarantee access to education for all young people aged 15 to 18.
Speaking during her daily press conference, Sheinbaum emphasized that ensuring teenagers remain in school is both a right and a government obligation. She argued that the previous entrance exam system unfairly labeled schools as “better” or “worse” based on students’ scores at a very young age. Instead, she stressed that all public high schools in Mexico provide quality education, though they may differ in focus—some emphasizing technical training and others general academic studies.
The expansion of available spaces comes alongside a major policy shift: 18 Mexican states have already eliminated entrance exams for upper secondary education. This follows the replacement of the traditional COMIPEMS exam in the Mexico City metropolitan area with the program “Mi derecho, mi lugar” (My Right, My Place), which aims to ensure broader and more equitable access.
The administration is also investing heavily in improving school infrastructure and quality. Programs such as La Escuela es Nuestra have been extended to the upper secondary level, and upgrades are underway for telebachilleratos (distance high schools) and telesecundarias. These efforts are aligned with the government’s “New Mexican School” educational model.
Sheinbaum highlighted that expanding access to education is also a strategy to reduce violence, noting that keeping young people engaged in school fosters inclusion and opportunity. Initiatives like “Te extrañamos en el salón” (“We miss you in the classroom”) are designed to identify and bring back students who have dropped out.
Education Secretary Mario Delgado Carrillo reported that the Mi derecho, mi lugar program saw a 10% increase in registrations in 2026 compared to 2025, rising from about 273,000 to over 307,000 students. Of those applicants, 40% chose admission without an exam, 37% opted for flexible options (with or without an exam), 15% selected admission with an exam, and 8% did not specify a preference.
Deputy Education Minister Tania Rodríguez Mora added that results will be published on August 18, with registration and placement processes taking place between August 19 and 26.
The 18 states guaranteeing admission to high school without entrance exams include Baja California, Chihuahua, Mexico City, the State of Mexico, Puebla, Oaxaca, Yucatán, and others across the country.
In parallel, the government highlighted progress in student health through the “Vive saludable, vive feliz” (Live Healthy, Live Happy) initiative. Since its launch in March 2025, nearly 9.8 million primary school students—about 88.5%—have received health evaluations, with visits conducted in over 93% of schools nationwide.
These efforts appear to be yielding results: according to the 2026 World Obesity Atlas by the World Obesity Federation, Mexico has dropped from first to eighth place among countries with the highest rates of obesity in children aged 5 to 19.
The government’s strategy centers on expanding access, improving quality, and ensuring that education in Mexico is inclusive, free, and capable of keeping young people in school rather than pushing them out.
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