Frontera NorteSur
November-December 2004

An international education assessment completed by the the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ranks Baja California below Mexico's national average in the areas of math, reading, and science.  The study, the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), was conducted among junior high and high school students in Baja California.  Both private and public schools participated in the Baja California part of the study. 

All of Mexico's 31 states participated in the assessment with the exception of Michoacán.  The Mexicali newspaper La Crónica did not indicate why Michoacán was not part of the study.

Mexico's Federal District, which is not considered a state but still participated in PISA, ranked second in math, science and reading.  In first place in all of these categories was the small, Pacific-coast state Colima.  Aguascalientes ranked third in all three categories. 

Baja California ranked 17th in math, 21st in reading, and 18th in science.  

Chihuahua and Tamaulipas, two other northern border states with large border cities that have experienced much immigration over past decades, did much better than Baja California.  Both states ranked among the top eight in Mexico in reading, math and science. 

Source: La Crónica (Mexicali), December 15, 2004.  

December 7, 2004
Baja California Gun Turn-In Campaign Nets Rifles, Pistols and Grenades

Baja California has collected 1,023 rifles and pistols since a statewide gun turn-in campaign began on November 16, 2004.  Also collected were 261 gun cartridges and 14 hand grenades.  

With the surrender of each gun in good condition a voucher worth 1,000 pesos (approximately US$88) is given to the person that turned in the weapon.  Guns and other weapons can be given to city or military officials at special stations set up throughout the state or at military bases.  

Tijuana has seen 770 guns turned in between November 16 and December 5.  The figure in Mexicali is 141, San Quintín 47, Ensenada 37, San Felipe 16 and Tecate 12.  Of the guns collected during the program 652 are long arms and 371 are pistols.  

An article in the Mexicali newspaper La Crónica notes that in the past two years Mexicali has collected more arms than Tijuana.  

The gun turn-in vouchers can be exchanged for food, toys or clothes according to La Crónica. 

There was no mention of when the program ends. 

Source: La Crónica (Mexicali), December 7, 2004.  Article by Gerardo Franco Ortiz. 

November 18, 2004
Strike and Actions by Mexicali Bus Companies Cause Transportation Chaos 

A group of city bus companies in Mexicali known as the Alianza Transportista de Mexicali (Mexicali Transportation Alliance) quit moving passengers across the city on the morning of November 18, 2004.  Alianza's move was to protest new bus routes awarded to other companies. 

The bus companies' strike was a surprise to Mexicali residents many of whom suddenly had to find new ways to get to work.  People driving private automobiles were also affected by the bus companies' actions when bus drivers used their vehicles to block Mexicali's main streets and intersections. 

The Mexicali newspaper La Crónica reported that hundreds of workers arrived late to work.  

Some bus companies are threatening to continue with the strike until the new companies are suspended from providing service. 

The strike began the day after the city's third new route opened.  A total of eight of the new routes, called "Expreso" routes, are scheduled to be introduced.  The new system was designed by the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (Autonomous University of Baja California). 

Other plans for the city's transportation system include new busses with air conditioning.  Mexicali is notoriously hot and humid during the summer.  Currently the city has 52 new busses with air conditioning and 48 more are planned to arrive soon. 

Source: La Crónica (Mexicali),  November 18, 2004.  Articles by Carlos Lima and José Manuel Yépiz. 

October 22, 2004
Academic Research in Sonora

Sonora is the state ranked fourth highest in Mexico in terms of the number of research articles published annually, according to Joaquín Enríquez Flores, the executive coordinator of the Consejo Estatal de Educación (State Education Council).  Only researchers in the State of Mexico, Jalisco and Puebla publish more articles than Sonoran researchers.  

Enríquez stated that the Universidad de Sonora alone has 300 specialists doing research and publishing.  Other research work and writing is done at the Colegio de Sonora, the Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora, the Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo (CIAD) and other institutions throughout the state.  Researchers in Sonora generally publish one to four articles per year says Enríquez. 

In 2003, academic researchers in Mexico received 8 million pesos (approximately US$700,000) in funds.  This year the figure is 36 million pesos (approximately US$3.2 million).  No reason for the increase in funding was given nor was the source of the funding indicated. 

Enríquez commented that Sonora enjoys its high ranking despite the fact that the state has no science and technology law like the majority of Mexican states.  However, the state is working on such a law to encourage and drive research.  

Source: El Imparcial (Sonora), October 22, 2004.  Article by Luis González.