Educational crises emerge in Paraguay and Argentina amid funding disputes

Educational systems in Paraguay and Argentina are facing significant challenges regarding funding and teacher compensation.

In Paraguay, recent PISA results indicate a severe performance gap, with nine out of ten students failing to reach basic competencies in Mathematics, and approximately three-quarters failing in Reading and Science. This diagnostic comes amid labor unrest, as teacher unions have announced a national strike for September 17 and 18 to demand an 8% salary increase, exceeding the amount initially proposed in the 2027 national budget.

In Argentina, the government of Javier Milei has implemented reductions in national education spending. National funding for Education and Culture decreased from 1.41% of GDP in 2023 to 0.86% in 2024, shifting a larger financial burden onto provincial governments. This fiscal adjustment, coupled with the discontinuation of the National Teacher Incentive Fund (FONID), has led to a decline in real wages and increased conflict, including strikes in various provinces and national universities.