Entre Ríos province faces school‑meal funding shortfall, union warns

The ATE (Asociación de Trabajadores del Estado) union in Argentina’s Entre Ríos province has condemned what it describes as a sustained desfinancing of school canteens. Citing the new Circular No. 5 issued by the Directorate of School Meals, the union says, “the provincial government tries to administer the crisis by reducing costs on the feeding of thousands of students, instead of guaranteeing greater investment and resources.” It argues that the budget cuts threaten a service that provides daily meals to vulnerable children and that staff are forced to work under precarious conditions.

ATE also points to recent budget adjustments, noting a 15 % increase approved in April 2025 that set the per‑student allowance at 1,500 Argentine pesos per day. However, with inflation reaching 117 % in 2024, the union says the cumulative increase of 119 % over the year still falls short of covering rising costs. The dispute highlights broader concerns about the adequacy of public funding for nutrition and education in the province.