The initiative seeks to provide structural solutions to the financing problems affecting the system.
Representatives of the National Universities presented a University Financing Bill to the National Congress, with the aim of guaranteeing the necessary resources for the full functioning of the national university and scientific system.
The main guidelines of the proposal developed by the universities as a whole were presented today by the president of the National Interuniversity Council (CIN), Oscar Alpa, and his vice president, Franco Bartolacci, at the Education Committee of the National Chamber of Deputies, where they were accompanied by more than 30 rectors of public universities from across the country.
Oscar Alpa highlighted the space granted by the National Congress to present the bill and explained that its structure brings together contributions from various sectors. “Congress is the one that creates universities, finances them, and enables them. Therefore, we felt it was necessary to come to this forum because the financing of the education system is key to considering the kind of country we want for the future. The Argentine university system is unique, a benchmark in many countries around the world, and the fact that today we are at 0,45% of GDP when historically it was 0,80% of investment, makes it very difficult to sustain.”
Alpa explained that they worked together with student, faculty, and non-faculty federations across the country for more than two months to unanimously create a document that reflects the needs of the university system. "This collective effort shows that the university system is united and we can continue discussing the kind of country we want. Argentine universities are free and tuition-free, something that isn't the case elsewhere and must be defended."
For his part, Franco Bartolacci stated that the budget gap, even with the increases obtained over the last year and a half, is 100 percent, and he also warned about the loss of purchasing power for teaching and non-teaching staff. “Eighty percent of workers live below the poverty line; a teacher with a starting salary earns about 80 pesos per month, and no one in their right mind can understand that with that salary, such an important task as training the future professionals the nation needs can be carried out in the best possible way,” he explained, adding: “Faced with this scenario, we decided to make a constructive contribution from the National Interuniversity Council, synthesizing the voices of the university and scientific community as a whole. And that constructive contribution is embodied today in this bill, which we are submitting to Congress with the will and expectation that it will find support, consideration, and approval to resolve these problems.”
Bartolacci described the university funding bill as a "responsible" and "reasonable" proposal, as it seeks to provide a structural solution to the budgetary crisis of the scientific and educational system, within the appropriate institutional framework: the National Congress. "We all believe that Argentina needs a strong economy; we all know that in this context of scarcity, priorities must be established, and we are deeply convinced that education and scientific production must be a priority," he expressed.
Furthermore, he considered this an urgent and necessary initiative, one that allows us to "put things back in their rightful place." In this regard, he highlighted the social support that universities received throughout 2024: "Argentine society, as many times as necessary, has said that universities and the scientific system are not a problem, but rather the possibility of finding a solution to the country's structural problems." He concluded: "It's not an expense, it's an investment. I hope we can respond to this mandate so that what is happening here, like nowhere else in the world, can continue to happen and transform the lives of many people every day."
The proposal includes several points that revolve around the allocation of basic and guaranteed resources for the normal operation of universities and research centers, the resolution of the critical salary situation of teachers and non-teaching staff, the funding of student assistance programs essential for continuing in higher education, and transparency and clarity in the distribution of budgets by the National Congress.
The initiative aims to ensure that the Executive Branch guarantees each year the basic resources required for the operation of National Universities. It also creates an annual fund of $10.000.000.000 billion to promote programs defined as strategic and fundamental to the country's development.
It also establishes a progressive annual increase in the amount allocated to funding university scholarships and proposes a gradual increase in the budget for National Universities, bringing it to 1,5% of GDP by 2031.
The president of the Argentine University Federation, Joaquín Carvalho, recalled the National Government's veto of the law passed last year and highlighted the massive public demonstration in defense of the university system. "A country seeking to grow cannot ignore its educational system. Today we are facing a critical situation regarding university scholarships, which are a key tool for guaranteeing access and retention for thousands of students, and which currently offer no solutions. The two existing scholarships, Progresar and Manuel Belgrano, are frozen at 35 and 80 pesos, respectively. This forces many students to choose between eating or making photocopies, and that is a reality we cannot accept."
Carvalho also addressed the situation of university workers, who are also going through a very complex situation. "It's not just the university system's budget that's at stake, but the future of an entire country," he concluded.
Simultaneously, a public presentation and outreach activities open to the public took place in Buenos Aires' Plaza de los Dos Congresos. In addition, information sessions, cultural activities, and discussion forums were held at every public university in the country to raise awareness about the project's scope and the urgency of its approval.
What the law says
The first article of the law states that The objective is to "guarantee the protection and sustainability of the financing of public universities in Argentina.".
In Art. 2, it is explained that the increase in investment will be used for:
-Strengthen student inclusion. Improve enrollment, retention, graduation, and continuing education.
-Guarantee working conditions. Full implementation of collective bargaining agreements for teachers and non-teaching staff.
-Strengthen teaching. Increase resources in technology, personnel, and new learning modalities.
-Expand academic offerings. Create strategic programs tailored to national and regional needs.
-Promote university outreach. Strengthen university ties with the community.
-Promote research. Consolidate the research function in public universities.
-Securing infrastructure. Improving equipment and maintenance.
-Promote internationalization. Inclusive in teaching, research, and outreach.
-Support student well-being. Increase strategic scholarships and grants that prioritize the most disadvantaged social groups.
Regarding the wages and collective bargaining , Articles 3 and 4 develop a call for:
-Recommendation of teaching and non-teaching staff salaries, taking into account inflation and ensuring the recovery of purchasing power. All salary increases must be remunerative and eligible for bonuses.
- Monthly salary updates, never below inflation. The call for collective bargaining may not exceed three calendar months, ensuring an update.
monthly not less than the inflation published by INDEC.
Operating expenses , Art. 5:
Guaranteed funding for essential university activities, adjusted annually according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Assistance to university hospitals, strengthening of science and technology, strengthening of university outreach, and the development of higher education.
Financing. Art. 6. In order to comply with the above, the Executive Branch must transfer monthly the income received according to section a) of article 3 of Law No. 23.548 "Federal co-participation of federal resources" to program 26 of "Development of Higher Education", of service 330 "Secretary of Education" of subjurisdiction 4 "Secretary of Education" of jurisdiction 88 Ministry of Human Capital, the "University Proportion", which arises from the last approved budget.
Strategic funds. Art. 7 and 8. Creation of a $10 billion fund for new careers (adjustable by CPI) for key areas such as artificial intelligence and strategic vacancies.
Scholarships Art. 8 and 9. Annual and progressive increase in the number and amount for students at public universities.
Progressive financing. Art. 10. Participation in GDP . Annual increase in the university budget to reach 1,5% of GDP by 2031.
Journalist: Gonzalo J. García