Educational Policy Alignment : The New Mexican Education System

Abstract

The purpose of this document is to examine and analyse the alignment between two educational policies that were designed and implemented to respond to needs in the Mexican education system. The objective of the research is to highlight the importance of policy alignment in education, which is a rising concern globally. The policies examined were the national reform that started in 2019 (Nueva Escuela Mexicana) and the digital emergency strategy in 2020 to respond to the Covid pandemic (Aprende en Casa). The analysis consisted of an examination through three policy levers: standards, curriculum and assessment. The findings showed that neither policy had a clear structure that included the three variables that were to be evaluated. The data assessed gave attention to the possibility of policy alignment being found in other aspects of the policy (ex. implementation) even if it could not be found on the paper policy. In conclusion, for further studies and better understanding of the depth of policy alignment and the complexity inherent to the Mexican education system, the conceptual model for examination should include a political analysis as a fourth of lever. The Mexican case serves as an example to broad the research on policy alignment and the many institutions and actors it includes.