A new report shows that Argentina’s spending on education has fallen to its lowest point in almost twenty years, after accounting for inflation. Calculations from a civil society group show the budget for the Education Secretariat is far lower now than during its highest points in 2017 and 2023.

Although the government has stated that education is a priority, the budget for training teachers is now at its smallest amount since tracking began in 2008. A key fund designed to improve teacher salaries in poor provinces has been cut dramatically, and money for building nursing schools has also dropped sharply.

National law requires that education funding must not be below six percent of the country’s total economic output. This target has only been met once, in 2015. The government’s proposed budget for 2026 seeks to remove this legal requirement entirely. Current and projected spending on education is now a very small fraction of the national economy.

Reports indicate the government is also considering major changes to the Education Law. These could include allowing more remote teaching, introducing regular teacher evaluations, and permitting religious content in state schools. The government has not confirmed these plans publicly, stating such discussions are being held privately.

This combination of reduced funding and potential legal changes points to a significant shift in Argentina’s approach to education policy, moving away from guaranteed financial support and toward new structural reforms.

The combination of deep budget cuts and proposed major legal reforms signifies a profound transformation for Argentina’s education system. This shift moves the sector away from guaranteed financial support and toward a new, uncertain model defined by reduced state investment and increased flexibility for provincial and institutional changes.