Irma Villalpando warns that students at the National Autonomous University of Mexico face significant challenges in avoiding school dropout.
Irma Villalpando, a professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), states that the primary challenge for students beginning the 2026-2027 academic cycle is avoiding school dropout. While the university has successfully completed its entrance exams, students now face academic complexity in fields like physics and mathematics, as well as socio-economic factors in human sciences. Official data from the Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) shows a marginal improvement in upper-secondary education dropout rates, which fell from 7.2 percent to 7.1 percent in the 2023-2024 academic year. However, the National Program for Higher Education 2026-2030 indicates that three out of ten young people abandon their studies within their first year. The administration of the SEP highlights that while access and coverage remain primary challenges, the academic load of specific majors is a critical factor in students' ability to maintain their studies.