1. THE NETWORK ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE
INTEGRATION OF EDUCATION AND CARE IN ECEC

2. Mexico’s early childhood education and care system
Mexico has a split system in ECEC services at national level, directed to children from 0 to 4 years
For children of 5-6 years the national Education System has nearly 100% enrolment in Preschool.
The main providers of ECEC services are Federal and state governments.
Municipal governments have no legal obligation and therefore there are very few municipal ECEC services.
The private sector offers ECEC services at high cost.
Additionally, there are few services organized by the community in urban marginalized areas, leaded by social organizations and religious groups.
De 0 a 4 años es dónde se tiene poca cobertura a nivel nacional. En la presentación de la reunión anterior se mostró que se alcanza un 15% de niños de 0 a 4 años con servicios de educación inicial.
En Preescolar, a pesar de la cobertura completa de 5 y 6 años, la problemática principal se encuentra en la calidad del servicio.
Se procura impulsar la participación de los 3 niveles de gobierno en el apoyo a la educación inicial.

3. Evolution of the current system
Recientemente, es importante mencionar la obligatoriedad del Preescolar, que está dirigida a reconocer la importancia de la educación de la primera infancia.
Un programa que tiene gran impulso en México es el de Estancias Infantiles de Sedesol, que ha crecido fuertemente de 2007 a la fecha.

4. Governance ECEC structure: Split System (0-3 years old)
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Education
Ministry
Health
Ministry
Social Development Ministry
Early Childhood
Education
Early Childhood
Health and Care
Early Childhood
Welfare
Public Education
Sub ministry
Social Healthcare
Institute (IMSS)
Social Development
Ministry (SEDESOL)
Estas son las principales dependencias que atienden servicios de educación inicial.
Se clasificó la educación inicial en 3 tipos de atención, que corresponden con 3 Secretarías de Estado.
No existe un liderazgo de alguna de estas dependencias en la definición de los objetivos, estructuras y curriculum de la educación inicial.
Indigenous
Education
Social and Security
Services for State
Workers (ISSSTE)
National Council for
Educational Promotion
(CONAFE)
National Family
Development System
(DIF)

5. Governance ECEC structure: Preschool(4-6 years old)
The Federal Government is responsible
for the legal framework of the
National Education System
Compulsory Preschool services are directed to children of 4-6 years old and are operated (mostly) by the
local Ministries of Education
El nivel de Preescolar requiere de ajustes para una mejor calidad: los horarios de atención de los servicios y la profesionalización del personal.
Preschool services are only offered by public or private institutions

6. Structure of the split system for ECEC 0-4 years old: Legislation
Early Childhood
Education
Early Childhood
Health and Care
Early Childhood
Welfare
Political Constitution of the United Mexican States
Development National Plan ( )
General Education Law
Social Development
General Law
Indigenous Rights Law
Federal Work Law
Welfare Law
Este diagrama muestra la aplicación de las distintas leyes y ordenamientos en cada uno de los sistemas de educación inicial que existen en México.
Cada sector retoma las leyes que le atañen directamente sin existir una sola estructura legal que rija los servicios.
De hecho se están revisando actualizaciones a las Normas de regulación de los servicios, y se han propuesto iniciativas de Ley para educación inicial.
Educational Program
( )
Social Security Law
Civil Protection Law
Discrimination prevention
& elimination Federal Law
Protection of children &
teenagers rights Law

7. Structure of the split system for ECEC 0-4 years old: Objectives
Early Childhood
Education
Early Childhood
Health and Care
Early Childhood
Welfare
Early childhood education: Improve children’s whole development
IMSS: Provide elements to benefit their whole development
Contribute to reduce job access delay and foster its retention for working mothers and single fathers
Parent-lead early childhood: Promote education, equitable service, committed participation
ISSSTE: Provide care services for child welfare and development
Los objetivos varían para cada tipo de servicio. Desde el cuidado, hasta el desarrollo integral de los niños. También se presenta el servicio de Conafe dirigido principalmente a padres y cuidadores.
La diversidad de servicios puede seguir existiendo, porque atienden a diferentes poblaciones: niños de padres asalariados, niños en condiciones vulnerables, niños en comunidades marginadas.
Sin embargo, debe existir un solo objetivo general.
DIF: Provide support to working mothers and offer care services for their children in vulnerable conditions

8. None explicit educational program
Structure of the split system for ECEC 0-4 years old: Focus of each programme
Early Childhood
Education
Early Childhood
Health and Care
Early Childhood
Welfare
CONAFE: Development of competencies in 4 areas
IMSS:
Based on children needs and characteristics
None explicit educational program
Regular System: Development of
children in 3 areas
ISSSTE:
Based on the Preschool Education Program (SEP)
Lo que podría ser el curriculum de los servicios presenta diferentes definiciones en cada tipo de servicio.
No existe un solo curriculum, y tampoco se presenta una sola normatividad al respecto. Cada Institución ha desarrollado sus programas de acuerdo con sus objetivos y evolución de sus ámbitos de interés: Salud, Educación o Cuidado.
DIF: Pedagogic activities based on the Early Childhood National Program (PIE)

9. Structure of the split system for ECEC 0-4 years old: Staff and Ratio
Early Childhood
Education
Early Childhood
Health and Care
Early Childhood
Welfare
Staff
CONAFE:
Educational Developer
DIF:
Community Counselor
Person in charge
of the centre
Early Childhood educator
Educational assistant, Childcare specialist,
Pediatrician, Social worker, Pedagogue,
Psychologist, Nurse, Cook, Music teacher
La distribución de los puestos de staff y asistentes directos es muy variable en cada tipo de servicio.
Children
per class
CONAFE: 1:15
IMSS: 1:7
1:13
Regular System: 1:10
ISSSTE: 1:12
DIF: 1:14

10. Structure of the split system for ECEC 0-4 years old: Enrolment (Selective)
Early Childhood
Education
Early Childhood
Health and Care
Early Childhood
Welfare
CENDIs services are directed to parents working in public education institutions
ISSSTE: Children of parents working for any public institution
Children of working or studying single parents with no access to childcare services from public institutions in urban areas
CONAFE services are
focused in marginal
areas
IMSS: Children of parents
working for registered
private institutions
El tema de matrícula muestra que los servicios están dirigidos a segmentos de la población, sin que se tenga una orientación universal.
DIF: Children of working
parents without social
assistance working for
registered institutions

11. Term period, Opening hours and Fees
Structure of the split system for ECEC 0-4 years old:
Term period, Opening hours and Fees
Early Childhood
Education
Early Childhood
Health and Care
Early Childhood
Welfare
Term
period
CONAFE: 9 months
All year around except for national holidays
(open on holidays by consent between the director and parents)
Regular System: 200 days
Opening
hours
CONAFE: 2 hrs per week
IMSS: 9 hours per day
8 hours per day
Regular: 4 hrs per day
ISSSTE: 40 hours per week
Es importante observar que los horarios que se brindan en algunos servicios son muy cortos. De 2 a 4 horas.
Las tarifas son prácticamente gratuitas en casi todos los servicios.
DIF: Half day 3 hours
Full day 9 hours
Fees
No fees for enrolment
IMSS: 1% of the working
mother or father salary
Governmental monthly support per child
ISSSTE: Service covered by the institution
DIF: according to a socio-economic study

12. Plans for integration: Relevant but isolated efforts
Early Childhood
Education
Early Childhood
Health and Care
Early Childhood
Welfare
The Public Education
Ministry (SEP) is
developing the “Strengthen of early education and child development model”
which attempts to unite criteria for all child care institutions
Congress recently proposed and is debating on a new Law to regulate all childcare centers
SEDESOL is promoting a
more comprehensive
programme which
contemplates more
educational contents
Health policy for childcare centers has been updated to improve accidents prevention and to promote a better qualitative service
Los esfuerzos de integración existen en México, pero continúan siendo aislados.
Algunas dependencias continúan trabajando en acciones como la actualización de las normas regulatorias.

13. Conclusions
Executive and legislative instances must raise their awareness about the need to establish a strong ECEC policy according to a National Plan.
An ECEC policy that promotes high quality and whole development
for all Mexican children from 0 to 4 years old.
It should allow different institutions to provide their particular services and set up general common elements that ensure quality
Se hace necesario impulsar la integración de un sistema único para la educación inicial que considere:
Objetivos
Curriculum
Fuerza de trabajo
Instalaciones
Este sistema único deberá considerar las diversas modalidades que puedan adoptarse en los servicios para responder adecuadamente a la realidad en la que se ofrece.
A National Educational Program is also needed to provide all centers with minimum educative objectives for child development