Who is Involved in the School Restart?
On Monday, January 12, over 23.4 million students and more than 1.2 million teachers returned to classrooms for Basic Education across the country, following the end-of-year holiday break, as per the official 185-day school calendar for the 2025-2026 academic year, according to Mexico’s Secretariat of Education Public (SEP).
Student Distribution Across Educational Levels
- 243,900 students in early childhood education
- 4.1 million in pre-school
- 12.8 million in primary school
- 6.3 million in secondary school
Financial Support for Primary and Secondary Families
SEP head Mario Delgado Carrillo announced that, following instructions from President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, an annual direct financial support of 2,500 pesos per primary student (from first to sixth grade) for the 2026-2027 academic year will be provided. This support aims to assist families with school supplies and uniform expenses.
- Assemble information sessions will take place in February at each public primary school.
Additionally, Delgado Carrillo reminded that since January 5, the Banco del Bienestar has started distributing Rita Cetina Universal Scholarship cards, benefiting 1.53 million secondary public school students. This support includes a bimonthly payment of 1,900 pesos per family and an additional 700 pesos per secondary student enrolled.
These measures aim to strengthen family finances and reduce economic barriers affecting children’s enrollment in the National Educational System.
Upper-Level and Higher Education Already Resumed Activities
Mario Delgado Carrillo explained that Upper-Level and Higher Education communities resumed classes starting January 5, according to each institution’s calendar.
- Nearly 5.5 million students returned to classes in 21,100 Upper-Level schools accompanied by 421,100 teachers.
In Higher Education (undergraduate and postgraduate), over 5.6 million students resumed activities in 11,700 institutions supported by 529,200 teachers.
When Does the 2025-2026 Academic Year End?
In total, more than 34.5 million students and nearly 2.2 million teachers across the three educational levels’ 264,500 centers resumed school activities in Mexico.
SEP reminded that the 2025-2026 academic year will conclude on July 15, 2026, marking the end of a crucial period for public education in Mexico.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is affected by the school restart? Over 23.4 million students and more than 1.2 million teachers are involved in the return to classes for Basic Education.
- How are students distributed across educational levels? The distribution is as follows: 243,900 in early childhood education, 4.1 million in pre-school, 12.8 million in primary school, and 6.3 million in secondary school.
- What financial support is available for primary and secondary families? An annual direct financial support of 2,500 pesos per primary student (from first to sixth grade) will be provided for the 2026-2027 academic year. Additionally, the Rita Cetina Universal Scholarship offers 1,900 pesos bimonthly per family and an additional 700 pesos per secondary student.
- When did Upper-Level and Higher Education resume classes? Upper-Level and Higher Education communities resumed classes starting January 5, according to each institution’s calendar.
- When does the 2025-2026 academic year end? The 2025-2026 academic year will conclude on July 15, 2026.
