Critics say that private sale of teaching posts has impaired education quality in the nation.

All applicants will have to take a unified examination Aug 16 and the test results will be published online seven days later, the minister said.

The applications were also designed to double the number of teachers in primary schools, special schools and so-called 'tele-secondary' schools, where students receive distance education via video links.

Mexican teachers enjoy better social security and welfare benefits and are respected in the country.