INEW - Argentine Education System

ARGENTINE EDUCATION SYSTEM

Argentine Education System The Argentine Education System (SEA) is a de-centralized system. Argentina consists of 22 Provinces plus the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (C.A.B.A.) and each is responsible for the administration and management of education (planning, organization, and supervision) jointly with the Argentine Government.

The latter is the one to define the education policy applicable and to supervise that such policy is complied with all along the argentine territory, considering the particularities and decisions made at the provincial level.

Additionally, provinces act through the Department General of Culture and Education (Direccion General de Cultura y Educacion), being obliged to guarantee and supervise that education be comprehensive, inclusive, continuous and of quality in order to satisfy the needs and realities of its jurisdictions. Such obligation must be complied within the limits imposed by guidelines and common goals set by the Argentine Government along the entire country.

In contrast with this autonomy exercised by the provinces and the C.A.B.A. in terms of education under the law on education services transfer , the new National Education Law (LEN) No. 26206 , according to which argentine education is organized at present, the challenge to unify the SEA all along the country was proposed. Additionally, it was proposed that the organization and coordination at all levels be granted as well as the education modalities, and that certificates and diplomas issued be valid at the national level.

Such tasks fall under the responsibility of the Federal Committee of Education (created in the year 1972), which has gained higher relevance and authority in terms of education policies as from the passing of the National Education Law. The Committee is composed of ministries for each of the 24 jurisdictions and aims at achieving, planning and coordinating the national education policies to guarantee unity and coordination.

Funding To achieve such goals, the National Government is also responsible for allocating the economic resources to make education free and equal at all jurisdictions existing in our country.

Consequently, the Law on Education Funding was passed in the year 2006. This law sets forth that the budget for education funding to be used by the National Government, the provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires shall not be inferior to six per cent (6 %) of the GDP (PBI).

Compulsory Education Along the years, the SEA has suffered changes in several aspects. One of those aspects has to do with compulsory education, which has been extended with time.

In the year 1884, the Law on School Education No. 1420 established that primary education is compulsory, amounting to a total of 7 years. Then, initial and secondary education was not compulsory.

This was modified in the year 1993 as the Federal Education Law (LFE) No. 24195 was passed. This law introduced

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important changes in connection with the academic structure since it discarded the division between primary and secondary education under a new system called Basic General Education (EGB) – that consisted of a 9-year term course of studies commencing after the Initial Level - and, after that, three years of Integrated Education that replaced secondary education.

At that time, compulsory education was extended from 7 to 10 years, including the preschool level within the initial level (at the age of 5) and until completion of EGB. After the amendment to the National Education Law (LEN) in 2006, the old distinction between primary and secondary education was marked (gaining ground to EGB and Integrated education) and secondary level education was declared as compulsory. From that year onwards, education has been compulsory for a term of 13 years as from the age of 5.

Finally, since January 2015, education is compulsory as from age 4 under Law 27045.

Structure and Modalities ElSEA consists of services such as private and state management, cooperation management and social management of all jurisdictions within the country, covering different levels, cycles and modalities of education.

Its legal grounds are based on the National Education Law (LEN). As mentioned above, this new statute changed the academic structure designed by the Federal Education Law (LFE) 13 years earlier, aiming at unifying the SEA and making the difference compared with the development policy of the 90´s.

Its structure consists of four levels: Initial Education, which covers education from age 45 days to 5; Primary Education, which commences at age 6; whereas the Secondary Education level begins at age 12. Primary and secondary education extends to 12 years of study.

At the jurisdictions, they may opt to implement one structure contemplating 7 years of primary education and 5 years of secondary education, or else a 6-year term primary education and another 6-year term of secondary education.

Additionally, secondary education is divided into two cycles: a Basic Cycle, common to all orientations, and an Orientation Cycle, covering different areas of knowledge concerning both the social world and that of work.

Finally, there is higher education, which comprises Universities, University Level Institutes and Higher Education Institutes of national and provincial jurisdiction, privately and state managed. The National Government has authority over Universities, which are created by the Legislative Branch, while the Executive provides them with funding.

Only institutions falling within any of these three categories are the ones legally authorized by the Argentine Department of Education to issue official diplomas.

We can distinguish the first two categories from one another since, on one hand university institutions offer courses of studies covering only one field (for example, courses of studies on health issues), while Universities are comprised of different divisions (commonly referred to as schools) covering different fields of higher education. Both issue degrees and post- graduate certificates (and in some cases these issue undergraduate diplomas or intermediate studies certificates). Despite this, all education institutes of higher level must submit their syllabus before the CONEAU (Argentine Committee of Examination and Certification at the University Level) for approval to issue official certificates.

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On the other hand, non- university institutions offer short-term courses of studies called Technical, Undergraduate Degrees (2 to 4 years of study) and issue undergraduate degrees offering students the necessary qualifications to enter the labor market requiring for specific qualifications. Many students completing these technical courses may continue their studies at a University to obtain a graduate degree relevant for their profession.

Finally, it is important to point out that the SEA offers 8 modalities consisting in organization and/ or curricula options.

Each modality aims at meeting education requirements and needs to grant access to education, namely: Technical- Professional Education, Arts Education, Special Education, Continuous Education for Young and Adults, Rural Education, Bilingual Intercultural Education oriented to natives, Education in contexts of Imprisonment and also Education at Medical Institutions or Residence Education.

Technical education Technical education was a pending issue during the 90´s. At that time, with the Federal Education Law (LFE) of 1993 in existence, technical education was not a topic discussed under the new regulation. Rather, it was left aside as large changes took place in terms of education matters, thus leading to a systemic deep deterioration.

During the last years, this scenario changed thanks to the passing of the law on Professional Technical Education No. 26058. As from the passing of such law, technical education has gained higher relevance in terms of Argentine education, promoting learning and skills development in that area of studies.

The main purpose of said law was to organize and rule Professional Technical Education at the secondary level, the non- University higher education level, and that of Professional Training.

As from the time this law was passed in the year 2005, we may classify the different education institutions comprised within the Professional Technical Education. On one hand, there are the secondary level professional technical education institutions comprising the technical, industrial, agricultural and service schools.

Also, Technical Education covers higher education professional technical institutions, such as technical higher education institutes, technological institutes and those of higher education.

Both institutions develop higher education technicians and issue a technical degree or other diplomas with a different name but of similar importance.

Finally, there are the professional training institutions. Within this category we may find Professional Training Centers; Work- Oriented Training Schools, Agricultural Education Schools; Technical Mono-missions; Schools of Arts and Trades, Secondary Schools or Integrated Schools offering professional training and/or complete plans of studies, schools for adults oriented to professional training or similar, issuing professional training certificates.

Apart from specific institutions of the professional technical education modality, included the different modalities of the National Education System (mentioned above), there are institutions where professional technical education plans are developed within its specific training offer.

It is relevant to point out that it was under Law 26058 that the National Fund for Professional Technical Education was

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created. This law established that the Fund could not be inferior to 0.2% of the total outstanding income included in the Consolidated Annual Budget Expenditure for the National Public Sector. Likewise, this Fund may be supported by further funding resources of national or international origin, be these private or public.

Professional training Pursuant to Section 8 of Law 26058, professional training aims at training people with different skills for work despite their educational background, so that they can acquire all the required qualifications to work within a wide employment sector.

According to such law, the offer of professional training courses (and that of technical education in general) must use as a reference framework the structure that the National Institute of Technology Education (INET) indicates in terms of professional families for the different sectors of social and productive activity. In the end, it is the Federal Committee of Culture and Education the one to approve the offer at stake depending on the basic criteria and minimum parameters connected with the following: professional profile, validity of degrees, certificates and syllabus, general training, sciencetechnology and specific technical training, professional practices and minimum work hours.

Notwithstanding this, each of the provincial jurisdictions and that of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, interfere in some aspects with professional training (such as those of syllabus planning, admission requirements, plans of study, total credit hours per course of studies, among many), in relation to the parameters settled by the Federal de Committee of Culture and Education.

In this case, and taking it as a Case Study, we will describe how Professional Training was developed in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. At present, it falls within the Operating Office of Education and Work, accountable to the Deputy Secretary of Finance and Administration of Resources of the Department of Education.

Within the group of Professional Training Centers (PTC), we may find two types: “State Managed” and “Joint Management”. The former are funded through the Department of Education in relation to basic services, equipment, supplies, maintenance, infrastructure, etc.

The latter, however, are supported by Cooperation Agreements between the City Government and entities suitable to offer the contents of professional training, such as Trade Chambers, Trade Unions and Non-governmental Organizations, which will be under the supervision of the Department of Education. This type of PTC may be funded by the Department of Education, depending on the Agreement entered into, this being taken as pay of the teaching staff and that of its authorities, as well as that of the administrative body of the PTC. As for the formation of the PTC, these are designed within the framework of the Functional and Organic Plant (POF).

Such Plant consists of the following members: Director, Shift Head or Head of Secondary Venue, Head of Workshops, In-Company Course Coordinator, Secretary, Coordinator of professional families, Pedagogical and Technical Designer, Training Trainer, Institutional Technical Advisor, Head of Mediations, Prevention and Orientation, Assistant Teacher, classroom/workshop/laboratory assistant, Preceptor, Personnel Office Assistant, Students Office Assistant, Librarian and Chief of storeroom.

The age requirements to enroll in the Professional Training Courses are to be of 18 or more. To have completed secondary education does not entail a limitation to enroll in a course. However, for certain course offers, basic knowledge in the field of study may be required.

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Moreover, there are courses for young people aged 16 - 20 who are outside the formal education system: the PTC for adolescents. At such courses, apart from learning specific professional training content, and according to the provisions set forth under the National Law No. 26058, there is a chance for coordinating and completing secondary studies.

Finally, it is important to highlight that professional families cover all of the formation stages of professional education, namely: Electrical Energy, Constructions, Gastronomy, Information Technology, Automotive, Aesthetics and Image and Sound.

Sources:

Website of the Argentine Department of Education http://portal.educacion.gov.ar/

Education Website – Department of Education of Argentina http://www.educ.ar/

Website of the Iberoamerican Governments Organization

http://www.oei.es/

Website on Legislative Information and Documents of the Argentine Republic

http://www.infoleg.gov.ar/

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Official Website of the National Institute of Technology Education http://www.inet.edu.ar/ Official Website of the Government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires http://www.buenosaires.gob.ar/ Duro, Elena. “About compulsory education at Argentine secondary schools. Analysis of national policies”. UNICEF. Web. http://www.unicef.org/argentina/spanish/doc_final_30_08.pdf Law No. 1420 on Common Education, Official Gazette dated 08/07/1884 Federal Law on Education, No. 24195, Official Gazette dated 04/29/1993 National Education Law No. 1420, Official Gazette dated 12/28/2006 Law No. 27045 on Common Education, Official Gazette dated 01/07/2015 Law No. 24521 on Higher Education, Official Gazette dated 10/10/1995 Law No. 26075 on Education Funding, Official Gazette dated 01/12/2006 Law No. 26058 on Professional Technical Education, Official Gazette dated 09/08/2005

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Argentine Education System

Exhibit National Law on Education No. 26206 (2006) Levels and term of studies within the academic structure INITIAL

PRIMARY (7)

SECUNDARY (5)

HIGHER

At age 3

1

1

Tertiary education

At age 4

2

2

University education

At age 5

3

3

4

4

5

5

6 7 PRIMARY (6)

SECUNDARY (6)

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

5

5

6

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Argentine Education System – Academic levels as per age

Higher Education

Age 18

Age 12

Age 6

Age 45 days

Tertiary education

18 or more years of age

University education

over 18 years of age

Secondary Education

Compulsory education age 4 - 18

First year

age 12-13

Second year

age 13-14

Third year

age 14-15

Fourth year

age 15-16

Fifth year

age 16-17

Sixth year

age 17-18 (optional)* Primary Education

First year

age 6-7

Second year

age 7-8

Tthird year

age 8-9

Fourth year

age 9-10

Fifth year

age 10-11

Sixth year

age 11-12

Seventh year

age 12-13 (optional) Inicial Education

Age 3

Age 45 days - 4

Age 4

Age 4-5

Age 5

Age 5-6

* At some jurisdictions and according to the modality used at the Orientation Level, duration of the secondary level may be extended 1 additional year (until age 19). This is so because they have had 7 years of primary education and 6 years of secondary education.

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Argentine Education System – Evolution of Compulsory Education Law

Law on School Education No.: 1420

Year

National Education Law – Initial Education No.: 27045

National Education Law No.: 26206

1884

1993

2006

2015

Initial Education

Initial Education

Initial Education

Initial Education

(Non-compulsory) Nursery School Age 3 Room Age 4 Room Age 5 Room Academic Structure

Federal Education Law No.: 24195

Primary Education

(Non-compulsory) Nursery School Age 3 Room Age 4 Room Age 5 Room (Compulsory) Basic General Education

7 years (Compulsory)

9 years (Compulsory)

Seconday Education

Integrated Education

3 years (Non-compulsory)

(Non-compulsory) Nursery School Age 3 Room Age 4 Room Age 5 Room (Compulsory)

3 years (Non-compulsory)

Primary Education 6 or7 years (Compulsory)

Primary Education 6 or7 years (Compulsory)

Seconday Education 5 or 6 years (Compulsory)

(Non-compulsory) Nursery School Age 3 Room Age 4 Room (Compulsory) Age 5 Room (Compulsory)

Seconday Education 5 or 6 years (Compulsory)

Structure of Professional Technical Education in Argentina Case Study on the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires Professional Technical Education Secondary Level

Technical, industrial, agricultural or service schools

Possible coordination with the Professional Training Center as from age 16

Non-university higher education

Professional Training

Institutes of technical higher education studies, institutes of technological studies and higher education.

Professional training centers (PTC), Job training schools, agricultural education centers, schools of arts and trades, high schools or integrated schools.

PTC Types

Professional families - Electrical Energy - Construction - Gastronomy - Information Technology - Automotive - Image and Sound

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High school studies completion Possible coordination with Technical Schools and Secondary Level Education Centers (CENS) to get a completion diploma of high school level studies.

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Organization

Requirements

All of these consist of authorities, teaching staff, students, service and administrative staff.

All of them make up the Functional and Organic Plant

En los CFP se cursa a partir de los 18 años de edad (sin necesidad de completar el nivel secundario)

State managed

Joint management

At the PTC courses are open for persons aged 18 or more (and no secondary level studies completion is required)

These are PTC under collective bargaining agreements or subject to Trade Unions, Nongovernmental organizations or Trade Chambers.