Argentina faces educational crisis amid rising graduation rates

Argentina is facing a complex educational crisis characterized by a decline in learning quality despite increases in school completion rates. While 74.6% of Argentines aged 19 to 24 obtained a high school diploma in 2024—a 12.7 percentage point increase over the last decade—significant inequalities persist based on household income. Only 60% of youth in the lowest income quintile graduate, compared to 90% in the highest quintile.

International assessments highlight a deterioration in academic standards. According to 2022 PISA data, Argentina scored approximately 378 points in mathematics and 401 in reading, falling below the OECD average. Experts note that while inclusion has expanded, it has not been accompanied by effective learning, leading to a gap in critical thinking, science, and technology skills. This decline is viewed as a long-term trend that has intensified since the late 1990s, impacting the country's strategic capacity and social mobility.