Mexican teachers face inequality and favoritism

Over 1,200,000 professors are teaching over 25 million children in Mexico; however, their salaries vary. Information released by the Public Education Ministry shows that there are seven categories for teachers and that salaries are between MXN 8,400 and MXN 33,100.

The fact that teachers can earn up to MXN 33,100 per month is an incentive to keep up to date with new teaching methods, and it is also an invitation for them to improve; nevertheless, there seem to be certain privileges for a few at the teachers’ union. These privileges could discourage professors from training and learning more.

Today, EL UNIVERSAL reveals that 7,250 education workers based in Michoacán, out of 50,000, earn over 40,000 per month. Interestingly, 619 teachers earn around MXN 2 million per year.

However, two professors earn MXN 87,000 and MXN 91,000 biweekly. This is more than the Michoacán governor and the President himself.

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The explanation is that since 1985 and up to 2011, state governments assigned, very discreetly, two tenures with the highest categories to a few teachers. Nevertheless, the situation in Michoacán also takes place in other states.

It is valid and advisable that the best teachers in the country have salaries that match their abilities. The problem is when promotions and better salaries are granted without transparency or when they are the result of political agreements.

The leaders of the education sector have often used their power to obtain favors or higher budgets. The current government, which insists changes must be implemented, has to work so that all teachers know and follow the rules to obtain a better salary without conditions or favoritism.

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