Inclusive education in Baja California is not just a program but an act of social justice, said Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda.
During her morning press conference, the governor highlighted that the State’s Department of Education provides dedicated attention to Indigenous, migrant, and disabled children.
For example, more than 16,000 Indigenous students in Baja California receive instruction in their native languages, helping strengthen their cultural identity.
The governor emphasized that special attention is also given to students who face greater barriers, including children with disabilities.
Inclusive Education in Baja California: Key Figures
Irma Martínez Manríquez, Baja California’s Minister of Education, explained that the department oversees programs designed to ensure equitable access to education for all students.
These initiatives focus on four main areas: Indigenous education, special education for students with disabilities or exceptional abilities, and education for the children of agricultural workers and foreign migrants.
Indigenous Education
Baja California’s Indigenous education system serves 16,000 students across 134 schools, supported by 704 teachers who speak more than 20 native languages, including Mixtec, Triqui, Zapotec, Tlapaneco, and Huichol, among others.
These programs promote reading through the New Mexican School model, introduce STEAM-based teaching methods, provide diverse instructional resources, and encourage sports and traditional games as part of cultural preservation.
Special Education
Special education services are provided through Multiple Attention Centers (CAM), Support Units for Regular Education (Usaer), and Psychopedagogical Attention Centers for Preschool Education (Capep).
In total, Baja California serves 24,000 students across 214 schools with the support of 1,661 specialized teachers.
The most commonly addressed disabilities include autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), motor impairments, low vision, hearing loss, and deafness.
Education for the Children of Agricultural Workers and Foreign Migrants
In the area of education for the children of agricultural laborers—primarily in the municipalities of Ensenada, San Quintín, and Mexicali—the state serves 860 students across 129 preschools, elementary, and secondary schools, supported by 48 teachers.
For the children of foreign migrants—mainly from the United States, Haiti, Cuba, and China—education is provided at all levels, serving 21,000 students across 2,000 schools.
These students receive targeted support to help them integrate into the school system, particularly those who do not yet speak Spanish, with access to specialized language-learning platforms.
Investments in Inclusive Education Infrastructure
The State Government has invested 38.1 million pesos (about $2.1 million USD) in Indigenous schools, 3.5 million pesos (around $190,000 USD) in migrant schools, and 46.4 million pesos (roughly $2.6 million USD) in special education institutions—demonstrating a continued commitment to inclusive and equitable education for all.
