Equality of Opportunity in Education and Training - Government Education and Training Programmes - Mexico

The National Programme for Women: Alliance for Equality 1995-2000 (PRONAM.)

The Programme was developed by Secretariat of Government and forms part of the National Development Plan 1995-2000. It articulates general programmes to address problems affecting women and draws up strategies and measures to promote their advancement. It recognise as priorities, amongst others:

1. Improving women's opportunities of receiving an education at any level and the quality of education itself.
2. Reinforcing women's capacities and promoting participation at all decisional levels.
3. Defending and protecting women's rights.
4. Combatting against women's poverty.
5. Supporting women workers. More specifically:

1. Protecting the rights of women wage-earners workers.
2. Sustaining the development of women in micro- and small enterprises.
3. Encouraging a more equal distribution of domestic and extra-domestic duties and responsibilities between men and women.
4. Recognising and valuing the contribution of women's unpaid work to the economy and well being of the family.
5. Contributing to the elimination of stereotyped images of the woman.

The Secretariate administers a number of programmes relevant to women and employment: The educational part of this programme is directed at promoting access to education for all, especially in those states where the drop out rates are higher. The problem of girls education has been addressed, inter alia, through the assignment of scholarships to families in need.

Programme of Training/Capacity Building Scholarships 

Secretariat of Labour and Social Provision (STPS) is running a programme of training/capacity building scholarships specifically directed at unemployed persons (PROBECAT). Training, for example, has been provided to women target groups in the State of Coahuilla through this specific programme.