Buenos Aires, Argentina – The air feels heavy with frustration as national university leaders declare their stance. Rectors from public universities, along with university faculty and staff unions, have announced a nationwide federal march to defend Argentina’s public education system. In an impassioned speech, Victor Moriñigo, president of the National Interuniversity Council (CIN), made it clear that they will take to the streets on October 2 at 5 p.m., marching to Congress.
“The Council of Rectors stands united in defense of public universities, and we will march in solidarity with students, faculty, and staff,” Moriñigo expressed with a mixture of resolve and weariness. “We have endured a torturous 2024, battling financial strain and navigating our institutions with little support. Our fight is for the university financing law, and should the President veto it, our plea will be to the national deputies to ensure the bill is passed.”
March to Defend Public Education Funding
The CIN’s decision to march comes at a time when dialogue between university leaders and the government feels like a distant echo. The situation has been stagnant since the April 23 protest, where tens of thousands gathered in Plaza de Mayo. While some attempts were made to address the conflict, university leaders are adamant that the government’s claim—there’s simply no money—is not the real issue.
“We believe this is about priorities, not a lack of funding. The President must understand that our universities, science, and technology are non-negotiable,” Moriñigo stated, his tone resolute yet tinged with a quiet hope that their message would finally be heard.
The looming federal march isn’t just about salaries. It’s about the 50-point gap between wages and inflation and the 20% wage disparity between university workers and other state employees. Moriñigo lamented that the April march had raised hopes only to be met with a slow-moving bureaucracy that addressed university operating costs in staggered payments, yet failed to resolve the core issue of salaries.
National March Poised to Highlight Systemic Failures
The march on October 2 is expected to be massive, with Oscar Alpa, vice president of CIN, calling for federal participation from universities across the nation. He emphasized that the core of their plea is for the future of Argentina’s education system. A recently signed document titled, “A Country’s Commitment to Its Dream of Remaining a Nation,” will be read aloud during the march, highlighting the economic and social role universities play.
Alpa passionately reiterated that this isn’t merely about budget cuts but a shift in priorities. “This law represents much more than funding, it’s about protecting the very fabric of public education in Argentina. We’re facing a stark decision between economic stability and the erosion of educational values.”
The gap in funding—a staggering 3.4 trillion pesos between what the CIN demands and what the government is offering—has cast a shadow over the future of Argentina’s universities. While the government has allocated 3.8 trillion pesos, university leaders argue that 7.2 trillion is the bare minimum needed to keep institutions functioning at a basic level.
“The gap in our budget requests comes down to salaries. We are simply asking for wages that match inflation,” Alpa asserted.
Faculty and Students Take a Stand for the Future
In the coming days, university campuses across the country will hold protests and symbolic gestures of solidarity. A symbolic embrace of the Hospital de Clínicas has already taken place, and on Thursday, university workers will stage a nationwide strike. The tension has been building, and the disappointment in the government’s inaction is palpable.
Ricardo Gelpi, rector of the University of Buenos Aires, spoke with emotion as he reflected on the situation, “It breaks my heart to see young people leaving Argentina. Our public universities were the bridges to social mobility, but now, they are crumbling.” His voice, filled with quiet anger, added, “If our country becomes wealthy but remains uneducated, that will be our deepest tragedy.”
The President’s recent international visits, where he met with wealthy investors, has done little to inspire hope among university leaders. “If he succeeds in attracting those investments, it will be bittersweet—a country rich in money, but poor in education,” Gelpi remarked, his tone underscored by a growing sense of despair among Argentina’s academic community.
The CIN and university leaders remain skeptical about whether the government will back down from its veto of the financing law. Still, their resolve to march remains undeterred.
Uncertain Future for Argentina’s Public Universities
Last week, Alejandro Álvarez, Undersecretary of University Policies, commented on the growing crisis. He downplayed the necessity for expansion, noting that while student enrollment has tripled, graduation rates remain stagnant. His solution, focusing on improving graduation outcomes rather than expanding the system, has done little to alleviate concerns about underfunding.
As the march draws near, university leaders continue to rally support, knowing that the future of public education and scientific research hangs in the balance. Their call is simple: fund education, prioritize the future, and prevent the collapse of Argentina’s public universities.
