The inauguration of the new Technological Industrial and Services High School (CBTIS) number 305 In Mérida, Yucatán, it has not only meant the launch of a key facility for technological training in the region, but it has also produced one of the most talked-about images of recent days: the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, cutting the ribbon. accompanied by a humanoid robot.
The official ceremony, held in the Yucatecan capital, brought together federal and state authorities from the education and government sectors. However, the spotlight was stolen by the android christened as “Atom”, who shared the spotlight with the president during the ceremony and during part of the tour of the facilities of the new technological high school.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony with a taste of technological future
During the opening ceremony, the president led the traditional inauguration protocol of CBTIS 305, flanked by the Governor of Yucatán, Joaquín Jesús Díaz Menaas well as by the Secretary of Public Education, Mario Delgado, and other officials from the education sector. At the center of the dais was Atom, the humanoid robot that symbolizes the technological focus of the new center.
In a brief video shared on her social media, Sheinbaum can be seen approaching the robot, smiling at it, and touching its shoulder in a friendly manner. At that moment, the mayor asks those present a question. "What's it called?"and receives the reply that the android's name is Atom. The robot, dressed in a white t-shirt similar to that of the rest of the officials, thus it is integrated into the official scenography as just another guest.
Immediately after the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the automaton performs an applause gesture, accompanying the usual cheers for such events. Following this, the authorities proceed inside the school to tour the various areas of the center, while Atom also participates in the procession as part of the message of modernization that they wish to project.
In addition to this robot located in the main access area, another robotic device She accompanied the president on part of the visit to the facilities, where students and teachers presented some of their technological developments and projects related to robotics and automation.
CBTIS 305 facilities: classrooms, workshops and multifunctional laboratory
Construction of CBTIS 305 began in 2025 As part of a federal strategy to strengthen upper secondary education with a technological focus in southeastern Mexico, the new campus has been designed to house a set of facilities that, according to the Ministry of Public Education, aim to meet the training needs of sectors linked to innovation and Industry 4.0.
The center will have 12 theoretical classrooms, designed for general high school education, in addition to three technical workshops intended for specialized training. In addition, multifunctional laboratory, equipped for experiments and projects in different scientific and technological disciplines.
Among the featured spaces is a equipped computer lab It features the latest technology, as well as administrative offices, a teachers' lounge, and basic service areas such as restrooms. The goal is to offer a comprehensive educational environment that combines training, management, and social spaces for both teachers and students.
According to the authorities' plans, the facility will have the capacity to serve 900 students distributed in two shiftsmorning and afternoon sessions. This double-shift structure allows for greater access without overcrowding the groups, while keeping the educational offerings manageable for teachers and administrative staff.
Academic offerings: robotics, automation, AI and cybersecurity
CBTIS 305 is part of the so-called National Baccalaureate, a strategy that aims to create and consolidate technical training programs adapted to the new demands of the labor market, especially in the field of technology and the digitization of processes.
In this context, the new Mérida team is particularly focused on areas such as robotics, automation, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurityThese specializations seek to respond to the region's economic vocation and the growing interest in activities linked to the technology industry, advanced manufacturing, and digital services.
The academic proposal includes up to 15 new technical careers associated with these fields, aligned with professional profiles in high demand internationally. The aim is for students not only to complete their general high school diploma, but also to leave the school with a solid technical training that improves their opportunities for both employment and continued higher education.
In addition to purely technical content, the educational model includes the promotion of sports clubs, cultural activities and socio-emotional development programsThese initiatives aim to strengthen soft skills, teamwork, and emotional well-being, factors that are increasingly valued in professional environments linked to innovation.
Dual certification and links with leading universities
One of the aspects that has been most emphasized in the presentation of CBTIS 305 is the system of double certification for students who complete their studies. On the one hand, students will obtain the official certificate of High school diploma accredited by the Ministry of Public Educationwhich allows them to access university studies in Mexico and in other countries that recognize this qualification.
In parallel, graduates will be able to receive a technical certificate issued with the support of highly prestigious higher education institutions, such as the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), the Autonomous Metropolitan University (UAM) and the National Technological Institute of Mexico (TecNM)This additional recognition aims to reinforce the academic and professional weight of the careers offered in high school.
According to the Secretary of Public Education, Mario Delgado, the inclusion of these technical certifications is part of the overall push for the National Baccalaureate, with the intention of strengthening the connection between the upper secondary education and the productive sectors linked to technology, both in the industrial field and in digital services.
Along with the dual degree, students will have access to scholarshipopportunities for academic participation at the national and international levels and support from specialized teachers in the various technological fields. All of this is presented as a comprehensive package to facilitate retention in the education system and encourage longer educational pathways.
A political message focused on education as a right
During her speech in Mérida, and in subsequent activities of the same tour in Yucatán, Claudia Sheinbaum insisted on the idea that Public education should be understood as a right, not a privilege.The president recalled that, four decades ago, she participated in a student movement organized around the University Student Council, which advocated precisely for the expansion of access to higher education.
Although the main focus of the day was on the technological baccalaureate, the president framed the opening of CBTIS 305 within a broader educational expansion strategy which also includes universities like Rosario Castellanos, inaugurated in Kanasín during the same visit to the state. From his perspective, these projects seek to correct a period of governments that, he stated, They stopped building schools and they directed education towards those who could afford it.
The presence of a robot like Atom at the event was interpreted, beyond media curiosity, as a way of underscoring the technological and innovation profile of the new center. The image of the president greeting the android and participating in the ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside it has been widely shared on social media, generating comments both about the symbolism of the event and about the future of technical training in the region.
Thus, CBTIS 305 is launched as a a reference point for Yucatecan youth interested in fields such as robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence. With its combination of specialized infrastructure, dual certification, and academic support, the new technology-focused high school program is presented as a key element in the institution's commitment to bringing more young people closer to cutting-edge sectors and reinforcing the role of public education in creating opportunities.