Playa del Carmen Faces School Shortage Crisis, Quintana Roo Education Services Admits

• A preliminary project has identified the need for two new school campuses in the Villas del Sol and Puerto Aventuras areas.

Playa del Carmen has seen rapid growth in recent years, attracting a steady stream of new residents. This influx of people has put pressure on the city's educational infrastructure, leading to a growing demand for more schools to accommodate the increasing student population.

Roberto Méndez Portales, a representative of the Educational Services of Quintana Roo, has recognized this need. He stated that while the 162 existing school campuses in Playa del Carmen are operationally capable of meeting current demand, geographically, there is a need for two additional campuses.

This conclusion is part of a preliminary project studying the potential growth of schools in the area. The project, which is still in progress, has identified the need for an expansion of educational infrastructure, including the construction of two more campuses in Puerto Aventuras and Villas del Sol.

However, these findings are still tentative. The final decision will be based on the results of the pre-registration period in February, which will provide a clearer picture of the expected demand for the next school year and whether further expansion is necessary.

"We have until the February pre-registration period to assess the influx of people. Tentatively, these are the areas where we would need more campuses due to population and student growth, especially in the El Eden area where many families live," said Portales.

He also highlighted that the campuses in Villas del Sol are nearly at capacity, while other parts of the municipality still have available spaces. However, many families prefer to rent homes in Villas del Sol due to its affordability, leading to a concentrated demand for schools in that area.

Portales acknowledged that for many parents, sending their children to schools where there is more availability would result in higher transportation costs and longer travel times, making the situation more challenging.