Quintana Roo Opens 21 New Childcare Centers

Quintana Roo, Mexico — Governor Mara Lezama has announced that Quintana Roo will have 21 Centers for Education and Childcare (CECI) in a first stage, as part of the new National Care System promoted by the Government of Mexico. She explained that the initiative responds to the high demand from mothers and fathers working in the tourism industry who require safe spaces for their children during the extensive work hours faced by this sector.

"The tourism industry is demanding: sometimes both father and mother work, or sometimes single mothers, and the complication of 'Where do I leave my children?' Today, thanks to the management we have carried out with the IMSS, it is a reality, we will have 21 confirmed CECIs distributed in Chetumal, Bacalar, Cozumel, Cancún, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum," said the governor.

According to Lezama, four centers have already begun operation in Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, and Tulum, and the objective is to reach 21 in this initial phase. These spaces will be located near workplaces and economic and residential development zones.

"These are spaces for children from 43 days old to 3 years of age, so they can then go to preschool. To you, woman working in the tourism industry, who needed that space and had to pay someone; today it is a reality," expressed the governor.

She highlighted that, currently, the IMSS operates 19 daycare centers in the state: 15 in Cancún, one in Playa del Carmen, one in Cozumel, and two in Chetumal, and this new infrastructure will allow for expanded coverage of early childhood care.

National Advance and Pedagogical Design

The state announcement occurred following the presentation at the Morning Conference from the National Palace about the national progress of the program, delivered by the director of the IMSS, Zoé Robledo, who reported that Mexico will build one thousand CECIs by 2030, starting with 200 next year.

"It will allow for granting half a million places for girls and boys between 43 days and four years of age, in areas where trends of formal employment growth are present. No more rent or search for private houses adapted into daycare centers, but a more efficient model, with better pedagogical design," said Robledo.

The director of the IMSS detailed that the project launched in Ciudad Juárez and that the model prioritizes proximity to work centers and development hubs, in addition to including modalities for agricultural zones like San Quintín, Baja California.

Robledo emphasized that the creation of the National Care System responds to an urgent reality: only 45 out of every 100 women participate in the labor market, partly due to the lack of support for childcare.

"Girls and boys are at the center of all actions. To become a country that cares for girls, boys, and of course, women," he commented.

Characteristics of a CECI

• Quality interactions between staff and children
• Promotion of healthy and balanced nutrition
• Fostering of self-care, mental health, and artistic expression
• Bimonthly supervision of the facilities
• They do not have gas; they have a fire suppression system
• Closed-circuit television and facial biometric system
• "Zero tolerance for child abuse" program
• Greater number of caregivers per room, with constant training
• Staff trained with sensitivity and affection
• Presence of an educational mentor for pedagogical supervision