Education in Mexico and Latin America

Literacy rates in Central and South America (Latin America) varies from average literacy (Guatemala: 73.2%, El Salvador: 82%, Honduras: 83.6%) to high literacy (Dominican Republic: 89.1%, Ecuador: 91%, Colombia: 92.7%) to very high literacy (Mexico: 95.8%, Chile: 96.5%, Argentina: 97.6%, Cuba: 99.8%). Cuba has the highest literacy rate in the world. In most of Latin America, primary education is free in government schools. In Cuba, where the government spends 10% of the central budget on education, even college education is free.

The Secretariat of Public Education (“Secretaría de Educación Pública”) (SEP) regulates education in Mexico. Until the early nineties, all primary and lower secondary education in Mexico was regulated by SEP. After 1993, most administrative functions have been transferred to the 31 states. SEPs current role is more supervisory than regulatory. In Mexico, school education is divided into three – primary school (“educación primaria”) from grades 1 to 6, junior high school (“educación secundaria”) from grades 7 to 9 and high school or technical school (“educación preparatoria”) from grades 10-12. Primary (“primaria”) and junior high school (“secundaria”) are compulsory as per the law. I Mexico, education in public school is free.

Higher education in Mexico follows the US model with four year Bachelor’s undergraduate degree (“Licenciatura”), two years postgraduate Master’s degree (“Maestría”) and three year Doctoral degree (“Doctorado”). In addition there are also two year degrees called University Higher Technician (“Técnico Superior Universitario”) or Professional Associate (“Profesional Asociado”). Since 2005, postgraduate studies have been segregated into those targeted at professional development and those targeted at scientific research. Professional development studies include a one year specialization after the Bachelors degree called Specialization Diploma (“Diploma de Especialización”) and two years Master’s degree (“Maestría”). Scientific research studies include a two year degree in Master of Science (“Maestro en Ciencias”) after the Bachelor’s degree and a three year Doctorate (“Doctorado en Ciencias”) after Master’s degree or a four year Doctor of Science (“Doctor en Ciencias”) after Bachelor’s degree. 85% of Mexican students enroll in 25 degrees at universities and colleges.

The Spanish to English translation specialist at the Certified Translation are very conversant with the degrees and diplomas awarded by Education authorities in Latin American countries.

Mexico’s grading and credit systems

Mexico has three common grading scales – 10 point scale, 100 point scale and a Grade scale. At school, a rating of 9-10/90-100/”Very Good” (“Muy Bien”) stands for a “A” in terms of US grades. A rating of 8/80-89/”Good” (“Bien”) is the equivalent of a “B” in the US. A rating of 6-7/60-79/ “Average-Sufficient” (“Regular/Suficiente”) is the equivalent of a “C”. 0-5/0-59/” Fail/Not Sufficient/Not Accredited” (“Reprobado/No Suficiente/No Acreditado”) is the equivalent of a “F”. For graduate studies, a grade of 8/80-89/”Good” is required for passing.

The National Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions have recommended one credit for 16 hours of academic activities. Undergraduate Bachelor’s degree students need to collect at least 300 credits in the four years of undergraduate studies. Specialty students need to collect 45 credits, Master’s students need 75 credits and Doctorate students need 150 credits before they can be granted their respective degrees. Not all Mexican colleges follow this credit system.

The US higher education and Mexican students

In the list of countries that send students to USA for higher studies, Mexico ranks 8th. In 2010, 13,450 Mexican students enrolled in US colleges and universities. Degrees awarded in Mexico and those awarded in the USA are similar.

USA accounts for 50% of all Mexican students that go abroad for studies.

Why is an English translation of diplomas/degrees required?

The below mentioned institutions will require a certified Spanish to English translation of their academic degrees/diplomas/transcripts/records/credits when they come to USA.

- STUDENT VISA: Students from Mexico and other Latin America countries who come to the USA on student visas.

- IMMIGRANT VISA: Citizens of Mexico and other Latin American countries who want to immigrate to the USA.

- WORK VISA: Citizens of Mexico and other Latin American countries who want to work in the USA.

The US universities, colleges, employers, companies, USCIS, evaluation agencies, licensing boards and similar such US agencies, all need academic records (like degrees, diplomas, academic certificates, mark sheets, academic transcripts) to be translated and certified from Spanish to English.

Colleges also need Spanish certified translations of diplomas, degrees and other academic transcripts in order to judge the student’s academic qualifications and academic scores with reference to their American counterparts. The Spanish certified translations help colleges calculate and transfer credits for those Mexican and Latin American students who come midway through the academic program.

Spanish to English certified translation services

Our team of professional Spanish to English language translators at specializes in documents that are required by the United States government and other US based public and private organizations. We have vast experience in translating documents for US organizations like the USCIS, colleges, schools, courts, etc, we offer Spanish certified translation of diplomas and other academic records, in the format that is mandated by these organizations.

As per USCIS requirements, our Spanish translators will certify that the translation is both accurate and complete. Our translators will also certify that they are competent to translate from Spanish to English.

Our specialist translators can translate Spanish academic certification from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Spain, Guatemala, Equatorial Guinea, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela.