A new and affordable educational option has arrived at the doorstep of local students interested in pursuing high-school level studies together with career training as Cetac Jocotepec opens its Ajijic extension for the 2019-2020 term.
Now entering its 35th year at lakeside, the Centro de Estudios Tecnológicos en Aguas Continentales (Cetac 01) is a branch of a system of public technological institutions operating in 43 locations nationwide. The Jocotepec school’s first extension was founded three years ago in Barra de Navidad.
The modest Ajijic facility where classes will start in two weeks’ time is located on the highway adjacent to the Auditorio de la Ribera, under a three-year loan contract with the Chapala government. It comprises two classrooms, two other rooms for laboratory work and an administrative office, an outdoor reception area and an open patio for school activities.
The curriculum encompasses basic academic courses (including English as a second language and computer skills), plus training in one of various trades and professions. After vocational orientation during the first semester, each student selects a preferred field of specialization. Ajijic students may opt for either food and beverage services or business administration in human resources. The program in Jocotepec offers those two fields as well as industrial food production, aquaculture, protected agriculture and environmental laboratory.
Aside from attending classes during regular weekday hours, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., students can sign up for a wide array of extracurricular activities. Cultural workshops include singing, band, dance, art, literary writing and public speaking. Choices for practicing individual and team sports are swimming, track and field, gymnastics, rappeling, fencing, air rifle, chess, soccer, basketball, volleyball and baseball.
Academic workshops include chemistry, electrical physics, anatomy, physiology, morphology, technical geometric drawing, analysis of written texts, French, Italian and preparation for the Toefl standardized English test. Students may also join the school’s science and gastronomy clubs.
The Ajijic extension has capacity for 80 first semester students. All 65 applicants who took the admissions exam in June qualified for admission. Another 15 places remain open to those who earn the highest scores in the next exam, to be applied Saturday, August 10. Classes will start Monday, August 19.
Cetac’s current tuition fees run at 650 pesos per semester, far less than rates charged at the area’s private high schools. The low cost will allow students of limited means to advance from secondary education and perhaps continue on to university studies.