Sheinbaum Delivers Scholarships as New School Rises in Caucel

Not all the action is north of Centro. In Mérida’s rapidly expanding western edge, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum delivered scholarships and inspected the construction of a new technical high school in Ciudad Caucel.

During the visit to CBTIS 305, Sheinbaum distributed Benito Juárez Universal Scholarship money to students who will receive 1,900 pesos (approximately US$105) every two months for up to 40 months. The program aims to reduce dropout rates by removing financial barriers to completing high school.

Yucatán Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena accompanied the president throughout her fifth visit to the state this year. He emphasized how the new school addresses a longstanding problem for families in Ciudad Caucel, where students previously had to cross the busy Periférico ring road or travel to central Mérida to attend high school.

“Many young people had to cross the periférico to find a preparatory school within the city or even go to downtown Mérida, which represented a significant cost for families,” Díaz Mena said.

The new CBTIS facility is nearly 80% complete after a state investment of around 50 million pesos ($2.8 million). The campus will include two three-story buildings housing 12 classrooms, laboratories for connectivity and robotics, a computer lab, administrative offices, restrooms, parking and a multipurpose sports court.

When finished in the coming weeks, the school will accommodate 900 students across morning and afternoon shifts. More than 230 students currently attend classes at a temporary location.

“We are building more preparatory schools that are close to home,” Sheinbaum said during the event, pledging to continue expanding educational infrastructure in the region.

The governor also highlighted the Aliados por la Vida program, which focuses on strengthening students’ emotional and mental health. The initiative aligns with the president’s anti-drug campaign message promoting healthy lifestyles.

Ciudad Caucel has transformed dramatically since its founding in 2004 as an affordable housing development. What began as henequen fields and fruit orchards has become a residential and commercial hub often called “the new north of Mérida” due to its rapid growth.

The area now hosts three universities, six banks, two sports complexes, multiple shopping plazas and hundreds of restaurants. Real estate developers estimate the zone generates around 600 million pesos ($33 million) annually, with approximately 9,000 residents and workers.

However, this explosive growth created challenges. Federal officials have previously cited Ciudad Caucel as an example of disorderly urban expansion, noting infrastructure struggles to keep pace with development. The new school represents part of a broader effort to address service gaps in the fast-growing community.

After the school visit, Sheinbaum and Díaz Mena traveled to Poxilá in neighboring Umán municipality to inspect construction of the Maya Train cargo rail hub. The facility, with an investment of 9.16 billion pesos ($508 million), is designed to become the peninsula’s logistics center for freight movement.

The president’s working tour continued to Valladolid before heading to Quintana Roo on Saturday, where she was scheduled to present housing program updates in Playa del Carmen.

Yucatán has emerged as an increasingly popular destination for students seeking quality higher education opportunities in a safe, affordable environment.

Fast Facts: CBTIS 305 Construction

• Investment: 50 million pesos ($2.8 million)
• Completion status: Nearly 80%
• Student capacity: 900 (morning and afternoon shifts)
• Current enrollment: 230+ students in temporary facilities
• Facilities: 12 classrooms, robotics and connectivity labs, computer lab, multipurpose court