Mexican construction chamber calls for creation of education infra fund

The Mexican construction chamber (CMIC) proposed that President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration create a national fund to upgrade existing education infrastructure due to the poor condition of many schools.

Thousands of elementary and secondary schools lack the most basic services, according to the chamber. It says that 26,463 schools have no electricity supply. 56,109 lack water supply, 43,558 have no wash basins and 5,950 have no toilets. 

Paulina Rocha, the president of the CMIC ladies committee, which is in charge of the chamber’s philanthropic work, this lack of basic services is commonly seen in low income and rural communities, and these schools would benefit greatly from the creation of the fund.

“The fund would be dedicated to upgrading education infrastructure in low-income communities, securing their participation in the design and construction works to address local needs,” she said.

CMIC president Luis Méndez Jaled has previously said that a fund for education infrastructure could be operated by the states or by the national institute for education infrastructure (INIFED).

The national development plan presented by Sheinbaum during her campaign, titled “100 steps to development”, includes improving the infrastructure and equipment of public schools by granting funds directly to parents, but does not offer further details.  

According to a 2018 report from the national institute for the evaluation of education (INEE) – a public and autonomous body that no longer exists – most elementary schools are in poor condition, particularly in rural areas. 

The report claims that 31% had structural damage, 33% functioned with structures that did not meet INIFED standards, 45% lacked sewerage services, 23% had no water supply and 5% lacked electricity. 

Hurricane John

Méndez Jaled said that the CMIC's emergency committee has been in session since last Thursday to discuss the chamber's response to the situation in Guerrero state after Hurricane John struck Mexico in late September.

The committee will work with the Guerrero branch of the CMIC to assess the investments and assistance required to address the emergency. 

Méndez added that the money required will not exceed that needed in the wake of Hurricane Otis in October 2023.