Socio-educational programs for migrant farm workers in Mexico: main features

Abstract

Abstract. This paper presents the results of a scientific pedagogical research, which goal was to reveal the main features of the socio-educational programs for migrant farm workers in Mexico, studying the projects of the Mexican government to integrate the laborers into social and working life. The study showed that the socio-educational programs for migrant farm workers in Mexico are characterized by the following aspects: decentralization; budgets and government actions at national and local levels; educational cooperation with non-governmental organizations as well as private institutions and NGOs, both domestic and foreign; influence of civil organizations and their organization in networks; diversity of educational programs; creation of training programs for educators.Keywords: socio-educational programs for migrant farm workers; Mexican educational system; adultseducation; mechanisms for integration into social and working life; educational cooperation.JEL classification: I24IntroductionIn Mexico, 15 million people each year migrate internally, from which, more than 2 million are laborers. Meanwhile, the potential population (agricultural laborers and their families) is quantified as 5.2 million people (53% are male and 47% female) (DOFSEGOB, 2013). Men and women working as laborers in the Mexican states, form the so called agricultural cycle of the Northwest. 90% of them work for large enterprises engaged in the export of products. These industries find in migrants a flexible workforce, that performs the arduous and exhausting work without any contract or labor rights (Paleta Perez, 2012, p.17). In general, the causes of migration of laborers are: financial need (absolute lack of job opportunities); poverty in their places of origin; family dependence; domestic violence; demand for labor; trafficking.Three migratory patterns developed: pendulum (go and return to the communities of origin), swallow (moving in several regions); seated in work zones. It is important to note that on the issue of migrant farm workers, several sociological studies with different methodological and conceptual orientations have been performed. Many studies are interested in the health of laborers affected by the application of pesticides and agrochemicals in various crops (Palacios, 2004; Seefoo, 2005; Olimon, 2005, among others). Several investigations are devoted to the experiences and living conditions of laborers in the fields and in their communities of origin, they record and display the fragile and intense exploitation conditions experienced by working laborers, adults and children; others address issues of gender relations, power and labor exploitation along with testimonials and pictures (Torres, 1997, Talavera, 2005; Galindo, Landa, 2007; Sanchez, Rodriguez, 2008; Paleta, 2011; Paleta, 2012, among others). Most research documented the difficulty for identifying laborers as being migrant groups with high spatial mobility and characterized them as heterogeneous groups with different ethnic affiliations and groups which demand educational and governmental attention.On the other hand, the study of the problems of migrant farm workers, takes up the subject of marginalization. Concerned about the consequences that trigger reproduction of phenomena of exclusion, marginalization, vulnerability, numerous studies have been conducted to understand the underlying causes of these and propose solutions to the problem in question. Thus, for scholars (Adler-de-Lomnitz, Alonso, Attanacio, Beccaria, Boltvinik, Cabrera, Castel, Cavarozzi, Chambers, Cordera, Cortes, Cruz-Betancourt, Cuellar, Damian, Del-Val, Diloretto, Dresser, Enriquez, Escudero, Filgueira, Furtado, Gordon, Grassi, Gregorio-Enriquez, Juarez-Bolanos, Kampbel, Katzman, Lechner, Lerner, Lomeli, Lopez, Lustig, Mathus-Robles, Negretti, Osorio, Pacheco Silva, Pizarro, Quijano, Saravi, Schulze, Sen, Szekely, Thomsen, Tovar, Urdaneta-Carruyo, Vinding, among others), one possible amendment is inclusive education for marginalized groups, including migrant farm workers. …