Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Avila Olmeda announced on May 19 that informational posters are being placed in elementary schools across the state with dates, locations, and times for parents to pick up Rita Cetina Universal Scholarship cards. The posters will be displayed from May 19 through June 2.
The federal scholarship program, launched by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, aims to keep students enrolled in public schools through direct financial support. In its first phase, the program has already delivered scholarship cards to 34,000 middle school students in Baja California.
How Much the Scholarship Pays
Middle school students receive bimonthly payments of 1,900 pesos (approximately $95 USD). Elementary school students receive an annual payment of 2,500 pesos (about $125 USD). Both amounts are deposited onto cards issued through Banco del Bienestar, the federal government’s social banking institution.
Parents and guardians of eligible students need to check the poster at their child’s school for the specific pickup date, time, and location assigned to them. Recipients must also download the Banco del Bienestar mobile app to track when deposits are made to their cards.
Who Qualifies and What to Watch For
The Rita Cetina scholarship is available to students enrolled in public preschools, elementary schools, and middle schools in Mexico. The current card distribution in Baja California targets elementary school families, following the earlier rollout to secondary students. Families with children in public schools in Tijuana, Mexicali, Ensenada, and other cities across the state should look for the posted notices at their child’s campus before June 2.
The governor also reminded Baja California residents who registered in March for the federal Disability Pension that their cards are now ready for collection. Those applicants should check for an SMS notification sent to the phone number they provided during registration, which will include pickup instructions.
The scholarship program is part of a broader federal push to reduce school dropout rates among basic education students. Families who have questions can visit their child’s school office or contact Banco del Bienestar directly.
This story was first reported by Punto Norte and confirmed by Pregonero Baja and Uniradio Informa.