Mexicans First finds deficiencies in the implementation of the New Mexican School

Mexicanos Primero found deficiencies in the implementation of the New Mexican School , after conducting research based on interviews with elementary school teachers.

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This Thursday, the organization presented the results of the study "Voices from the Classroom: The New Mexican School in the Teaching Experience," a research project that analyzes the implementation of the new educational model through the voices of teachers and administrators from public elementary schools in the states of Jalisco, Michoacán, Sinaloa, and Yucatán.

At a press conference, Maura Rubio , Director of Research at the organization, presented the main findings of the study, which include teachers' acceptance of the pedagogical proposal, particularly project-based learning and its connection with the community, which fosters active student participation, the development of their inquiry skills, and their socio-emotional development.

She warned that its implementation is difficult due to the requirements of project development, such as costs and the involvement of parents, among others. At the same time, while teacher autonomy is highly valued, several interviewees indicated that they lacked the appropriate experience, training, or support to exercise it.

The activist explained that teachers expressed concerns such as the haste in implementing the NEM, the lack of clear information on how to put it into practice, and the frequent discontinuity of educational reforms being implemented in Mexico.

Among the findings, he highlighted teachers' concern about the NEM's limitations in strengthening basic learning: reading, writing, and mathematics.

Furthermore, the study found that, for the implementation of the NEM , there was insufficient teacher training, limited to School Technical Council sessions, and a lack of pedagogical support; scarce or unclear information, which generated confusion and an excessive administrative burden; a late distribution of free textbooks and a lack of books for students with disabilities; and, for schools, deficiencies in the connectivity and infrastructure necessary to implement the NEM , which widens the inequality gaps between contexts.

The study was conducted during the 2023-2024 school year, when the New Mexican School (NEM) began its implementation in all elementary schools in the country. Among the findings, it stands out that, from the perspective of teaching staff, the NEM has the potential to strengthen their professional autonomy and generate significant learning in elementary school students; however, they noted that its launch was rushed, with insufficient training and little pedagogical support.

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The nonprofit organization collected testimonies directly from group teachers and school administrators, the implementers of this educational model. The research was based on focus groups and semi-structured interviews, seeking to gather their perceptions of the main challenges and opportunities of the NEM .