The Beca Universal para Estudiantes de Secundaria "Rita Cetina" is a vital new initiative from the Government of Mexico aimed at supporting public secondary school students. As the program launches, it is set to impact 5.6 million students nationwide, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder educational access.
As of March 24, 2025, the Coordinación de Programas para el Bienestar has successfully delivered 1.2 million Banco del Bienestar cards, with ongoing distribution efforts that will continue until March 31, the final deadline for this phase of the project. Recent announcements from the Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP) confirmed the ongoing card delivery and outlined the schedule to ensure that all eligible students receive their support.
The Beca Rita Cetina targets 5.7 million secondary school students and their families, who will receive 1,900 pesos bimonthly. Notably, families with multiple enrolled students in secondary education will gain an additional 700 pesos per student. This direct financial assistance is designed to alleviate barriers to education, making it easier for families to support their children's schooling without the worry of economic hardship.
On March 24, students in Nuevo León will receive their cards, marking an important day for many families eager to access these funds. The delivery of these cards is organized through school assemblies, ensuring everyone is informed and can receive their support effectively. For example, students will gather at various schools at specified times to collect their cards; these schools include Secundaria Num 1 Profr. Pablo Livas at 09:00, Secundaria Num 2 Profr. Ramón Salinas Elizondo at 14:00, and several others throughout the region.
For students and guardians who are yet to receive their cards, important advice includes staying attentive to school announcements regarding the processing of card distributions. To check for their card delivery status, they can utilize the government’s online search tool at buscador.becasbenitojuarez.gob.mx/escuelas/, entering their school’s Clave del Centro de Trabajo (CCT) to find pertinent information.
Thus far in 2025, impressive progress has been recorded; as of mid-March, 750,000 cards were delivered during 10,000 school assemblies. Additionally, newly registered records indicate that 57,000 students are set to receive their applications, which had not been completed earlier. Furthermore, bimonthly financial support of 7.3 million pesos was activated to 389,000 cards in February, showing tangible progress toward the program’s financial goals.
As the delivery process nears its expected conclusion at the end of March, families are reminded to uphold the necessary documentation when attending their school's assemblies. Required documents include official identification, a copy of the birth certificate, proof of domicile (no older than three months), and the CURP (Clave Única de Registro de Población) for both the student and guardian. These requirements are essential for ensuring that the process runs smoothly without any administrative hiccups.
In further updates, Mario Delgado, the head of the SEP, has stated that parents can begin to expect their first financial disbursements by April 2025, approximately one month after receiving their Banco del Bienestar cards. Proper planning can enable families to organize their schedules to visit their respective schools promptly.
Although the delivery of the Beca Rita Cetina cards is underway, the program is set to expand beyond secondary education. Plans are in place to extend this financial support to elementary and preschool children in the near future, thereby increasing the program’s reach and benefit to even more students.
This thoughtful initiative echoes the urgent need for financial assistance in education within Mexico. By directly addressing the economic factors driving school dropout rates, the Beca Rita Cetina aims to keep families engaged in their children’s education, ensuring that no student has to exit their schooling due to financial challenges.
As families prepare for the upcoming delivery events, anticipation is palpable among the students and guardians who have taken advantage of this opportunity. With structured support and clear communication from the school authorities, it represents a significant step forward in securing a better future for students across Mexico.
