Mexico to scrap teacher hiring system by 2025 amid transparency concerns

The Mexican government has announced plans to dismantle the Teacher Career System Unit (Usicamm) by 2025. Officials claim the move will create a fairer and more transparent system for teacher hiring, promotions, and transfers. A roadmap for its replacement was unveiled this week by key federal authorities. Usicamm was established in September 2019 under President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration. It operated as a branch of the Public Education Secretariat (SEP), overseeing teacher selection, hiring, and career progression. The system has faced criticism since its inception, with groups like the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) demanding its elimination.

Interior Secretary Rosa Icela Rodríguez, SEP Secretary Mario Delgado, and ISSSTE Director General Martín Batres jointly presented the transition plan. They proposed a new system to replace Usicamm, though details remain under development. A working group, including diverse stakeholders, will begin drafting reforms on June 15.

Teacher mobility under Usicamm relied on seniority and three main criteria: in-person hiring events, public vacancy postings, and proximity to teachers’ home regions. Critics, including Erik Avilés of Mexicano Primero’s Michoacán chapter, argue the system was flawed from the start. Without strong legal safeguards, experts warn that removing Usicamm could revive the black market for teaching positions, where budgetary codes were previously traded illegally.

The government insists the new framework will improve transparency and accountability. However, observers caution that weak oversight in the transition could allow corruption to persist in teacher assignments. The elimination of Usicamm is scheduled for 2025, with a replacement system still in planning. A working group will meet in mid-June to outline reforms, but concerns remain about potential gaps in transparency. Without strict regulations, the shift could risk repeating past issues in teacher hiring and promotions.