THE NETWORK ON EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION AND CARE
INTEGRATION OF EDUCATION AND CARE IN ECEC
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.
Evolution of the current system
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)
Indigenous
Education
Social and Security
Services for State
Workers (ISSSTE)
National Council for
Educational Promotion
(CONAFE)
National Family
Development System
(DIF)
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
Preschool services are only offered by public or
private institutions
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 (2007-2012)
General Education Law
Federal Work Law
Indigenous Rights Law
Educational Program
(2007-2012)
Social Development
General Law
Welfare Law
Social Security Law
Civil Protection Law
Discrimination prevention
& elimination Federal Law
Protection of children &
teenagers rights Law
Structure of the split system for ECEC 0-4 years old:
Objectives
Early Childhood
Education
Early Childhood
Health and Care
Early childhood
education: Improve
children’s whole
development
IMSS: Provide
elements to benefit
their whole
development
Parent-lead early
childhood: Promote
education, equitable
service, committed
participation
ISSSTE: Provide care
services for child
welfare and
development
DIF: Provide support to
working mothers and
offer care services for
their children in
vulnerable conditions
Early Childhood
Welfare
Contribute to reduce
job access delay and
foster its retention
for working mothers
and single fathers
Structure of the split system for ECEC 0-4 years old:
Focus of each programme
Early Childhood
Education
Early Childhood
Health and Care
CONAFE:
Development of
competencies in 4
areas
IMSS:
Based on children
needs and
characteristics
Regular System:
Development of
children in 3 areas
ISSSTE:
Based on the
Preschool Education
Program (SEP)
DIF: Pedagogic
activities based on
the Early Childhood
National Program
(PIE)
Early Childhood
Welfare
None explicit
educational program
Structure of the split system for ECEC 0-4 years old:
Staff and Ratio
Staff
Early Childhood
Education
Early Childhood
Health and Care
Early Childhood
Welfare
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
Children
per class
CONAFE: 1:15
IMSS: 1:7
Regular System: 1:10
ISSSTE: 1:12
DIF: 1:14
1:13
Structure of the split system for ECEC 0-4 years old:
Enrolment (Selective)
Early Childhood
Education
Early Childhood
Health and Care
CENDIs services are
directed to parents
working in public
education institutions
ISSSTE: Children of
parents working for any
public institution
CONAFE services are
focused in marginal
areas
IMSS: Children of parents
working for registered
private institutions
DIF: Children of working
parents without social
assistance working for
registered institutions
Early Childhood
Welfare
Children of working or
studying single parents
with no access to
childcare services from
public institutions in
urban areas
Structure of the split system for ECEC 0-4 years old:
Term period, Opening hours and Fees
Early Childhood
Education
Term
period
CONAFE: 9 months
Regular System: 200 days
Opening
hours
Early Childhood
Health and Care
Early Childhood
Welfare
All year around except for national holidays
(open on holidays by consent between the director and parents)
CONAFE: 2 hrs per week
IMSS: 9 hours per day
Regular: 4 hrs per day
ISSSTE: 40 hours per week
8 hours per day
DIF: Half day 3 hours
Full day 9 hours
Fees
No fees for enrolment
IMSS: 1% of the working
mother or father salary
ISSSTE: Service covered
by the institution
DIF: according to a socioeconomic study
Governmental monthly
support per child
Plans for integration:
Relevant but isolated efforts
Early Childhood
Education
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
Early Childhood
Health and Care
Early Childhood
Welfare
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
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
A National Educational Program is also needed to provide all
centers with minimum educative objectives for child development