The article describes how a gap in education and digital access affects generations in Chiapas. Poverty and low formal employment shape daily life: CONEVAL finds 74.2 percent of people in poverty and 46.5 percent in extreme poverty. Women’s participation in the formal workforce is 31 percent, while most women work informally in subsistence agriculture or small vending and earn about MXN 5,200 a month (about USD 260) without benefits.
Illiteracy remains a major challenge. State rates are about 16–17 percent and rise to 25–30 percent for Indigenous women. About 28 percent of residents speak Indigenous languages such as Tzotzil, Tzeltal and Chol, but most educational and digital resources are in Spanish, which creates linguistic barriers. Only about 35 percent of rural households have internet, compared to 75 percent in urban areas. Community centers often use old desktop computers and face intermittent electricity, sometimes relying on solar panels; in some villages one computer is shared among 20 or more students.
Violence is another barrier. In 2024 the Feminist Observatory recorded 197 violent deaths of women in Chiapas, including 63 confirmed femicides, and these threats make it harder for girls to attend school safely. Programs show measurable results: UNICEF supports the Low-Tech Program with mobile-friendly lesson plans; Tecnolochicas teaches girls aged 12–17 coding, robotics and STEM and improves digital skills by 60 percent; and the Secretary of Public Education leads a government effort to translate 180 new textbooks into 20 Indigenous languages. Girls trained in technology create websites, run campaigns against domestic violence and analyze femicide data. Studies from the World Bank suggest sustained investment could cut illiteracy in Chiapas by 10 percent within a decade.
Difficult words
- education — The process of teaching and learning.
- skills — Abilities that can be developed through practice.
- culture — The ideas, customs, and social behavior of a group.
- indigenous — Native to a particular area or region.
- empower — To give someone the power or confidence.
- poverty — The state of being very poor.
- programs — Planned series of activities or tasks.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How can integrating culture in education benefit students?
- What are some other ways to support girls in education?
- Why is it important to address issues like gender violence in education?
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