Eleven Mexican States Launch Early Literacy Drive for Children
Eleven state governments in Mexico have made a joint commitment to ensure that all children learn to read and write by the end of third grade in primary school, placing early literacy at the center of their education policies. In a statement released by the education authorities, basic learning was identified as a top priority, alongside concrete steps to strengthen classroom practices.
The initiative is being implemented under the “México Aprende Leyendo” (Mexico Learns by Reading) alliance, led by Fundación Instituto Natura and UNESCO. The states of Campeche, Coahuila, Guanajuato, Nuevo León, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, and Yucatán have already begun putting systemic policies into practice, while Aguascalientes, Chihuahua, and Durango are expected to join the effort in 2025.
The commitment was publicly announced at a special event held during the Guadalajara International Book Fair. Speaking at the event, the education ministers of Tamaulipas, Yucatán, and Coahuila shared insights into the positive impact of the policies on students. Officials emphasized that state and regional education structures have been mobilized and that resources and regulatory frameworks are being aligned around a common goal.
Policies focused on foundational learning were launched during the 2021–2022 academic year, and more than 1.1 million students have benefited from the initiative to date. Around 50,000 teachers and education personnel are involved in the program, with nearly 25,000 teachers and 6,000 support staff having received pedagogical training aimed at strengthening early literacy.