Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda this week oversaw the distribution of Benito Juárez scholarships, describing the program as central to keeping students in school and supporting long-term public safety and economic stability.
The initiative will provide 1,200 high school students with a bi-monthly stipend of 1,900 pesos. Recipients are enrolled in state-run academic and technical high schools across Baja California. Officials say the assistance is aimed at easing financial pressure on families and reducing dropout rates.
“We want students earning scholarships, not getting pulled into crime. We want young people pursuing their dreams,” she said, framing the program as part of Mexico’s broader social policy agenda. “Scholarships are no longer a privilege, but a right for young people.”
The governor said the program fits into a wider effort to expand access to education at all levels. She noted that an existing scholarship for public middle school students is expected to expand in 2026 to include upper elementary grades.
Governor Marina del Pilar also pointed to a new proposal focused on higher education that has been sent to the state legislature. The plan would eliminate tuition at the Autonomous University of Baja California, beginning with students from the state’s most underserved regions.
“The goal is to reach all students over time,” she said, adding that the first phase would focus on those with the greatest financial need, particularly in rural and remote areas.
Carlos Perezares Naveja, who oversees the federal scholarship program in Baja California, said the Benito Juárez initiative is expected to reach more than 120,000 students statewide this semester, supported by a federal investment totaling 2.5 billion pesos.
He encouraged students who meet the eligibility requirements to apply in future enrollment periods as the program continues to grow.
