Perceptions of High School Students on Academic Training for Science and Technology in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area

Mexican high school students have a strong inclination to deem scientific and technological college-level education as overly challenging. The purpose of this study was to present firsthand information to learn the following: (a) current problems associated with scientific and technological human capital training in the Mexico City metropolitan area and (b) perceptions of high school students from this geographical area with regard to the challenges of pursuing a degree in science or technology. The study is relevant because it shows the low impact of scientific and technological human capital training in the geographical area, which has both the largest number of public institutions and the largest allocation of economic resources in Mexico. Among the most important results of the study were the predominant low interest in scientific or technological careers and the fact that such indifference is primarily due to the scientific and technological environment in Mexico, which lacks prestige; therefore, students do not foresee an attractive future after achieving a bachelor’s degree related to science or technology.