The Mexican government continues to strengthen programs that support educational access for children and adolescents. One of the most recent initiatives is the Beca Universal de Educación Básica “Rita Cetina”, a financial-aid program aimed at families with children enrolled in public basic-education schools. Alongside this program, the government has released a digital tool known as the Buscador de Escuelas, which helps families verify whether their school qualifies for the scholarship.
This article explains everything you need to know — what the scholarship is, how it works, and how to use the Buscador de Escuelas effectively.
What Is the Beca Rita Cetina?
The Beca Rita Cetina is a national social-assistance program established to provide financial support to families whose children study in Mexico’s public basic-education system, which includes:
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Preschool
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Primary (grades 1–6)
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Secondary (grades 7–9)
Its primary purpose is to promote school continuity, especially for students in economically vulnerable communities or priority localities. The scholarship aims to reduce school dropout rates and ensure that low-income families can keep their children enrolled in school.
Financial Support Provided
Under the program, beneficiaries receive:
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$1,900 MXN every two months per family, regardless of the number of children.
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An additional $700 MXN for each extra child enrolled in secondary school within the same household.
This financial assistance is typically delivered through Banco del Bienestar payment cards.
Who Can Receive the Beca Rita Cetina?
To qualify for the scholarship, a student must:
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Be enrolled in a public school within Mexico.
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Attend a school classified as a priority institution or eligible under the program.
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Participate in the registration and verification processes organized through local school assemblies.
The scholarship prioritizes families with limited economic resources, although the program is being expanded gradually.
What Is the Buscador de Escuelas?
The Buscador de Escuelas is an online search system designed to help families check whether their child’s school is eligible for the Beca Rita Cetina program.
What You Can Do With the Buscador de Escuelas
Using this digital tool, families can:
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Confirm if a school is categorized as prioritaria (eligible)
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Look up schools by:
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School name
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Municipality or state
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Education level
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Type of institution
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CCT (Clave de Centro de Trabajo), the unique school code
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View information related to:
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School eligibility
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Location
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Scheduled informational assemblies for scholarship enrollment
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Payment-card distribution updates
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The tool simplifies the process and helps ensure that families know the status of their school before attending government assemblies.
How to Use the Buscador de Escuelas (Step-by-Step)
Here is a basic guide on how to check whether a school qualifies:
1. Access the Official Website
Go to the official search tool provided by the federal government (Buscador de Escuelas).
2. Choose Your Search Method
You can search using:
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CCT (most accurate), or
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The school’s name, or
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Location filters like state, municipality, and level
3. Review the School Information
Once the school appears, you can view:
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Eligibility for Beca Rita Cetina
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Full address
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Type and level of school
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Advisory or assembly notices
4. Check for Assembly Dates
If your school is eligible, the platform may display dates and instructions for attending informational assemblies where the registration process occurs.
Why the Buscador de Escuelas Matters
The Buscador de Escuelas is essential because the scholarship is tied to school eligibility, not just the student’s personal situation. This prevents confusion and ensures that families only participate in official procedures when necessary.
Benefits include:
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Quick verification of school eligibility
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Reduction of misinformation
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Improved scheduling for assemblies
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Guidance throughout the registration process
Conclusion
The Beca Rita Cetina represents a significant step in supporting Mexican families and ensuring that basic-education students have access to financial assistance that promotes academic continuity. The addition of the Buscador de Escuelas makes the process more transparent, accessible, and efficient for parents and guardians across the country.
If your child is enrolled in a public school, checking the school’s status through the Buscador is the first step toward determining eligibility for this valuable scholarship progr
