Teacher career reforms in Mexico, The initial stage (2015-2015) - Country note

In Mexico, the  implementation  of  new  teacher  career  policies  adopted  as  a  part  of  an  education  reform in 2013 was subject to intense public debate and protests coordinated by organized teacher  groups. Although  there  was  consensus  that  education  needed  a  profound  transformation  if  it  was  to  provide  opportunities  for  learning  to  all  students  and  adequate  conditions  to  develop  teaching  and  professional  practice, public opinion was strongly divided with regard to the specific rules concerning entry into the teaching profession, in-service evaluations, and promotion modalities.

From  the  standpoint  of  the  government  and  some  social  actors,  the  concept  of  a  merit-based teacher career, introduced with the 2013 reform, represented the end of an era  when  teaching  positions  and  promotions  were  assigned  arbitrarily  by  the  SNTE  (National  Education  Workers  Union)  and  education  authorities.  However, other stakeholders  (teachers,  experts,  academics,  and parts of the SNTE) saw the reform as entailing the loss of teacher workforce stability, professional rights, and benefits.