This year, Puebla has set out to educate 150,000 residents with the goal of reducing the illiteracy rate in the state from 6% to 3%, moving closer to the goal of being declared a territory free of illiteracy. Currently, it is estimated that there are 308,000 illiterate residents in Puebla, representing 6% of the population. During the signing of the agreement for the Literacy Campaign in Puebla, the General Director of INEA, Armando Contreras Castillo, highlighted the importance of this effort in the development of the state.
"The first white flag that we are going to raise will be to declare Puebla a territory free of illiteracy," expressed Contreras Castillo. It is expected that with the literacy of 150,000 people by 2025, approximately half of the illiterate population in Puebla will be addressed, offering them new opportunities for training and growth. The goal is to meet UNESCO standards and reduce illiteracy to 4% in the population.
The Governor of Puebla, Alejandro Armenta, stated that the expectation is to reach 50% of the literacy goal in the state by next year. The literate will also receive social programs to complete their learning cycle. To achieve this, there will be collaboration with the Secretariat of the Interior, the Secretariats of Education, Health, Welfare, and the DIF, as well as the State Institute of Education. Incentives for literacy teachers will be implemented throughout the process.
Regarding educational challenges in Puebla and Mexico, Contreras Castillo pointed out that nationally there are still 4.2 million illiterate Mexicans, 7.8 million who did not complete elementary school, and 15.5 million who did not finish middle school. In coordination with the National Technological Institute of Mexico, the aim is to educate at least one million Mexicans this year to reduce the illiteracy rate and declare Mexico as a territory free of illiteracy. Education is positioned as a fundamental pillar for the development of the country and to combat educational lag.
