What are SEP's functions in Mexico?

Its name in Mexico is “Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP)”. Its main objective is to create conditions that ensure the access of all Mexicans to a quality education, in the level and modality that require it and in the place where they demand it.

Image taken from "Government Official Page"

General Functions

1. Organize, monitor and develop education in official, incorporated or recognized schools.

a. In the following levels: pre-school, primary, secondary, technical and normal education

b. Prescribe the norms to which the incorporation of private schools to the national education system must comply.

2. Create and maintain, where appropriate, schools of all kinds that operate in the Republic

3. Promote the creation of scientific and technical research institutes and the establishment of laboratories, observatories, planetariums and other centers to promote and encourage the development of scientific and technological research.

4. Grant scholarships so that students of Mexican nationality can conduct research or complete study cycles abroad.

5. Revalidate studies and degrees, and grant authorization for the exercise of the capacities they accredit.

6. To conserve, protect and maintain the archaeological, historical and artistic monuments that make up the cultural heritage of the Nation

7. Guide the artistic, cultural, recreational and sports activities carried out by the federal public and educational sectors

Internal Organization

· Under secretariat of Basic Education

· Under secretariat of Upper Middle Education

· Under secretariat of Superior Education

· Under secretariat of Planation, Evaluation and Coordination

Secretariat: Esteban Moctezuma Barragán

Image taken from "Proceso"

Biography and Academic Background

· Birth date: October 21, 1954 in Mexico City

· Bachelor’s in Economy by UNAM

· Bachelor’s in Law by UNAM

· Master’s in Political Economy by Cambridge University

· Diplomat in Regional Development in Tokyo, Japan

· Ex-president of Fundación Azteca

o Boosts Esperanza Azteca Children's and Youth Symphony Orchestras

o In charge of Movimiento Azteca

· He has published three books about Education, Globalization and Public Administration

· Opinion columnist at El Universal

· On 2012 he was appointed as “Doctor Honoris Causa” by Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas

· Since 2004, he has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Mexican Foundation for Health

Political Background

He is a man who has been immersed in politics for a long time. Some of his remarkable positions and actions are:

· In 1989 he creates the National Capital Savings Fund for Workers in the Service of the State (Fonac)

· In 1994 he is the Government Secretariat in Ernesto Zedillo’s Legislature

o In charge of implementing the autonomy of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation

· Senator of the Republic from 1997-1998

o Creates career civil service

o Prohibition of the promotion of the image of public workers with the use of public resources

· In 1998 he becomes the Secretariat of Social Development in Ernesto Zedillo’s Legislature

o Creates Citizen Advisory Council for Social Development

AMLO and Esteban Moctezuma at the beginning weren’t friends, instead they belonged to different political sides. In 1994, Moctezuma was in charge of solving the polemic situation that was generated in the Tabasco elections. As AMLO was part of the situation, they met at the several meetings held with the intention of solving the problem. At the end, Moctezuma was discharged from his position for being unable to manage the situation.

Despite this, AMLO said he was a good intentioned man who was inexpert at that time. Since then, their relationship grew up to the point of becoming friends. AMLO invited Moctezuma to participate in different projects, but Moctezuma had to decline due to his duties with Fundación Azteca. Finally, on this presidential campaign, Moctezuma decided to collaborate with AMLO.

Agenda

· Elimination of the punitive evaluation for the teachers

o Substitute it with evaluation to find “opportunity areas”

o Teachers training

· Construction of 100 Universities

· Free Education in all levels

· Make Superior Education Obligatory

· Scholarships “Benito Juárez” – Students from Upper Middle Education

Integral Education – Arts, Sports, Civics and Environment

Image taken from "ADN Político"

Bibliography

· https://www.gob.mx/sep/que-hacemos

· https://www.gob.mx/sep/acciones-y-programas/subsecretarias-de-la-sep

· «Artículo 38 de la Ley de Orgánica de la Administración Pública Federal».

· https://lopezobrador.org.mx/esteban-moctezuma-barragan/

· https://lideresmexicanos.com/300/esteban-moctezuma-barragan-los-300/

· https://www.proceso.com.mx/515095/relacion-amlo-esteban-moctezuma-desde-la-polemica-eleccion-de-tabasco-en-1994

· https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/nacional/como-nacio-la-relacion-entre-amlo-y-esteban-moctezuma

· https://www.nacion321.com/gobierno/9-puntos-para-entender-la-nueva-reforma-educativa-de-amlo

· https://www.imagenradio.com.mx/pascal-beltran-del-rio/evaluacion-continuara-pero-dara-prioridad-capacitacion-los-maestros-esteban

By YCM