Mexico City.— Children’s education does not depend solely on schools, so parents must participate in their learning and academic development, said Roberto Anaya, Undersecretary of Education and Sports in the Northern Zone of Chihuahua.

The official explained that the home is the first place where children acquire habits and behaviors that they later bring to the classroom.

Therefore, he considered it necessary for families to support activities such as homework, studying, and reading.

“Parents also need to be involved in their children’s education. What is a child’s first school? Home; home is the first school.”

Anaya pointed out that one of the current challenges is to recover children’s interest in books, given the time they spend on electronic devices, social networks, television and other entertainment platforms.

Therefore, he recommended that parents not only ask their children to read, but also participate in that activity.

The undersecretary considered that sharing reading can promote family life and stimulate learning.

Family example is also part of learning

Anaya emphasized that children learn from what they observe in their environment, so she considered the example of adults to be relevant.

He explained that when a father or mother maintains the habit of reading, children can perceive that activity as part of everyday life.

“If parents at home don’t make sure their child does their homework, studies, and reads, we are neglecting a very important part of their education.”

The official also considered that the approach to books should begin from an early age and continue throughout the different school stages.

According to their approach, reading allows one to expand knowledge, learn about other ideas, and develop useful tools inside and outside the classroom.

For Alfonso Villaseñor, a teacher trained at the Higher Normal School of Mexico, parental involvement is necessary to achieve a comprehensive education.

In an interview with Siete24 Noticias , he acknowledged that some parents do not consistently accompany their children and that there are also difficulties in understanding the contexts in which they grow up.

In complex situations, he stressed the importance of guiding and training young people through values.

Villaseñor also questioned the authoritarian or rude attitudes of some teachers, noting that they can affect the school environment and academic performance.

PISA reveals Mexico’s educational challenges

The statements from both specialists come after the publication of the results of the PISA 2025 test by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Mexico scored 414 points in Science, 408 in Reading, 388 in Mathematics and 453 in Computational Problem Solving.

All four results were below the averages recorded by the OECD.

In addition, 41.8 percent of Mexican 15-year-old students were at low performance levels in Science, Reading, and Mathematics.

The corresponding average among OECD countries was 19.7 percent.

Only 0.5 percent of Mexican students reached the highest levels of performance in the three main areas.

Given these results, the National Union of Parents (UNPF) expressed its concern and pointed out that Mexico faces an educational challenge that requires attention.

The organization argued that the results should not be analyzed solely as figures from an international assessment, but rather considering the students’ conditions and their development opportunities.

From that perspective, the UNPF pointed out that difficulties in understanding texts, interpreting information, solving mathematical problems or analyzing data are related to the educational opportunities of young people.

UNPF calls for a review of various educational factors

The UNPF considered that the PISA results should serve to review the direction of education in Mexico.

The organization noted that since 2023 it has pointed out problems related to pedagogical models, the depth of content, and teacher training.

He also mentioned educational materials, infrastructure, and the articulation between study programs, teaching, and assessment.

For his part, Villaseñor pointed out that learning can develop when the student feels heard, respected and understood within a safe space.

In this context, family support and teaching work are among the factors that the sources consulted identified as relevant to the educational process.

For Anaya, this support begins at home with everyday actions such as supervising homework, encouraging study, and sharing reading time.