The National Institute for Transparency, Access to Information and Personal Data Protection (INAI) has ruled that the Ministry of Public Education (SEP) must locate and provide a person with a copy of their high school diploma, record of studies, degree, and professional license.
A request was submitted to the SEP through the General Directorate of High School Education, in order to obtain a copy of the high school certificate that the person had completed at the University of Three Cultures in Mexico City. The person expressed in their request: "The institution where I completed high school has not granted me the certificate, and I have been trying to obtain it for almost a year, which has prevented me from continuing with my higher education studies."
The SEP's response indicated that the official record of the University of Three Cultures was not found to validate the high school studies. Despite the dissolution of INAI as the body responsible for the protection of personal data, it is emphasized that this right will continue to be in force in Mexico, as Commissioner Josefina Román pointed out when presenting the case.
"The high school diploma is a document containing personal data that certifies a person's level of education and is an essential requirement for continuing their professional training," emphasized Josefina Román Vergara.
During the analysis carried out, it was discovered that the University of Three Cultures is registered with the SEP, but the agency did not consult all its competent areas, including the General Directorate of Technological Industrial and Service Education. The General Directorate of High School Education stated that it could not locate the information, without considering the connection of the University with the SEP's records, nor taking into account the copy of the completion document provided by the applicant.
As a result, the INAI Plenary unanimously revoked the SEP's response and ordered it to conduct a new search in all its corresponding areas to find and deliver the requested certificate. The importance of accessing educational documents is vital for individuals to continue with their academic and professional training.
