In a recent audit, the Superior Audit Office of the Federation (ASF) in Mexico uncovered significant irregularities in the administration of the Benito Juárez Scholarship program. This program, designed to provide financial support to students in need, was found to have awarded scholarships to 486 deceased students and nearly 20,000 non-existent ones during the Lopez Obrador administration.
The ASF’s findings were based on a thorough comparison of the scholarship program’s beneficiary list with the national death registry and school enrollment records. The audit revealed that 513 payments, totaling over one million pesos, were made to 486 students who had already passed away. This discrepancy highlights a severe lapse in the program’s oversight and verification processes.
Additionally, the ASF identified 19,984 payments, amounting to 101,314 pesos, made to individuals who were not registered in any educational institution. These payments were made to supposed students who did not appear in the enrollment records of various educational institutions, including those under the Subsecretariat of Higher Secondary Education of the Ministry of Public Education (SEP).
The ASF’s report has raised concerns about the potential misuse of public funds and the effectiveness of the program’s management. The findings suggest that the National Coordination of Scholarships for Benito Juárez Welfare (CNBBBJ) needs to implement more robust verification mechanisms to ensure that scholarships are awarded only to eligible students. Despite efforts to clean up the database and remove deceased beneficiaries, the ASF found that irregular payments persisted.
This situation underscores the importance of stringent oversight and accountability in the administration of public welfare programs. The ASF has called for immediate corrective actions to address these issues and prevent further financial losses to the public treasury. The revelations have sparked a broader discussion about the need for transparency and efficiency in the management of social programs in Mexico.
Sources: Vanguardia / El Imparcial
