SUMMARY
Who’s who in Prices? PROFECO
The head of the Federal Consumer Protection Agency, Iván Escalante, reported that on January 8 and 9, signs were placed at gas stations that were charging higher than the average price of gasoline. This resulted in a significant number of gas stations reducing their price of regular gasoline to less than 24.00 pesos (US$1.15) per liter.
Currently, the price of regular gasoline ranges between 22.23 and 26.84 pesos (US$1.07 and US$1.29) per liter, while diesel costs between 24.21 and 27.53 pesos (US$1.16 and US$1.32).
Integral Plan of the National High School System
Deputy Minister of Higher Secondary Education, Tania Rodríguez, presented the Integral Plan of the National High School System of the New Mexican School. This plan has as its main axes:
– Strengthening: Improving life in schools to guarantee that students remain in the classrooms.
– Integration: Articulating the higher secondary education subsystems to improve the attention provided to the population.
– Expansion: Offering more places to guarantee the right to education.
The goal is to update curricula to guarantee meaningful knowledge, establish community integration and inclusion programs, and strengthen the pathways to higher education for those who wish to continue their studies. In addition, efforts will be undertaken to improve the working conditions of teachers.
Among the goals of the plan are the creation of 40,000 new places in secondary education, the opening of 20 new schools, the expansion of 30 existing ones, and the reconversion of 35 others.
President Claudia Sheinbaum explained that higher secondary education will be oriented towards two systems: the National General High School and the Technological High School. Both will issue single certificates and will be linked to higher education.
It was also pointed out that the Benito Juárez scholarship program has reduced school dropout rates at the higher middle school level by 8%. In addition, the Rita Cetina scholarship program was presented. It is designed to prevent high school students from dropping out of school for economic reasons.
Reflection on discrimination and machismo
President Sheinbaum reiterated that discrimination, machismo, and classism are reminiscent of colonialism and neoliberalism. She called for leaving these practices in the past and emphasized that both women and the people of Mexico are owed respect.
Social programs and well-being stores
Sheinbaum discussed the Youth Building the Future (Jóvenes Construyendo el Futuro) program, which offers a minimum wage to young people who are working as apprentices in companies. Although more than 60% of the beneficiaries have not yet found stable employment, the program continues to support both the young people involved and the participating companies.
She explained that the well-being stores will sell products directly connected to small producers. The Bienestar brand will be in charge of supplying these stores.
Message of gratitude and unity
Sheinbaum thanked the population for its support and expressed her enthusiasm for what is happening in Mexico. She stressed that there can be no disconnect between the people and the government, a union that began in December 2018 and will continue.