For Mexico, a country characterised by a high degree of inequality both with regard to income and education, concepts such as the "knowledge-based economy" and Lifelong Learning are even more elusive than in other countries. Given its poor school system and the large part of the adult population who are without any basic educational qualifications, the country's challenge is to engage in a catch-up race with other nations, especially the two NAFTA partners in the North, the US and Canada. While education is recognised in principle to hold the key for greater equality and prosperity, education reform policies are half-hearted and largely uncoordinated, and the public resources for education totally insufficient. Lifelong Learning is paid lip service to by the government, yet its potential for providing a frame for a more coherent and efficient education system is not seriously discussed nor considered, let alone realised. (Contains 9 tables and 2 notes.)