Inflation Drives Up to 7% Dropout Rate at Private Schools in Southern Quintana Roo

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — Private schools in the southern part of Quintana Roo are seeing a steady rise in student dropouts, with enrollment falling by up to 7% over the past three years, according to the Association of Private Schools (ADEPAS).

Miguel Pérez Cetina, a member of ADEPAS, said the decline is directly tied to the erosion of families’ purchasing power. Households are prioritizing basic expenses as the cost of food and fuel continues to climb.

“Inflation and rising operating costs have hit private schools in southern Quintana Roo hard, leading to a sustained drop in enrollment,” Pérez Cetina said.

In addition to losing students, schools are grappling with a significant operating deficit. Over the past few years, expenses such as salaries, employer contributions to the IMSS (Mexican Social Security Institute) and Infonaut (housing fund), and basic services have increased by up to 20%.

To prevent further dropouts, schools have kept tuition increases moderate — between 3% and 6% — absorbing much of the economic impact themselves.

Pérez Cetina warned that this leaves many schools in a financially vulnerable position, as they must maintain educational quality and meet labor obligations without passing the full cost burden onto parents.

If current economic conditions persist, he said, more institutions could struggle to stay afloat, potentially driving a larger migration of students to the public school system in the coming years.