Argentina’s hard, right-wing President – Javier Milei’ austerity plan which severs public-education funding, exploded civilian unrest marching thousands on streets hoisting anti-Milei flags, fearing closure of prominent public universities
Argentina’s capital – Buenos Aires was rocked by huge demonstrations as more than thousand Argentinians gathered to express their resentment after President Milei proposed a plan conferring budget-cuts in public universities. Serving as an armor against soaring inflation these universities rose in prominence among university attending youth.
But the infamous austerity plan fractured the hopes of millions who were desirous of attending public education, illuminating in students confidence to fill the streets of Buenos Aires and other major cities – singing National Anthem, raising slogans and diplomas – all to demand increased funding for the country’s public universities.
The protests were not singlehandedly manufactured by students, professors and other involved shareholders joined in, coordinating their efforts with trade unions and other leftist parties to push back against budget cuts which has derailed one of the most vulnerable university in Argentina to an extent of declaring financial emergency and pushing forth for an imminent closure in the future.
The age-long rift between right and left in Argentina’s education precinct
The right-wing, self declared anarchist – Javier Milei has constantly been in public awareness since he has assumed Presidency of Argentina. His brash attitude had convinced Argentinians to support his capitalistic ventures all in hope to calm the chaos erupted due to skyrocketing inflation.
His viral videos on social-media – jumping enthusiastically on stage, greeting his flattered fans or taking a dig at President of Mexico by positioning him as an indoctrinating machine or something as serious as a “terrorist murderer” has upheld him to a status of a vociferous clown. His furthermost distaste for socialism has added an extension to his unapologetic charisma.
Describing universities as a bastions of socialism where professors indoctrinate their students, Milei has tried to dismiss the university budget crisis as politics as usual. “The cognitive dissonance that brainwashing generates in public education is tremendous”, he said.
His anti-leftist integration in education precinct has failed to roar triumphantly among Argentinian students who have dismissed his anarchist agenda by building pressure to increase investment in state-held control of educational stratum.
Education is just a drop in Milei’s capitalistic bucket
Since the dawn of Milei’s presidentship, he has optimized plans to achieve zero-deficit which on Monday, Argentina announced was able to achieve its first quarter of fiscal surplus since 2008. After sixteen years of poor governance, lack of private spending and dismantled fund-allocations, Milei promised that the public pain will eventually pay off.
In his drive to achieve zero deficit Milei is slashing spending across Argentina – shuttering ministries, defunding cultural centers, laying off state workers and cutting subsidies. The inflation which has now reached a towering 290%, the state has provided the University of Buenos Aires with just 8.9% of its total budget. The university says that’s barely enough to keep lights on and provide basic services in teaching hospitals that have already cut capacity.
The university denounced how the budget cutting will strand more than 380,000 students mid-degree. University of Buenos Aires is cemented upon a tradition of producing high quality education for its students which is indictive of its four Nobel Prize winners and 17 presidents who all have pursued their higher education from UBA.
Overall, Argentina puts 4.6% of its gross domestic product into education. Public universities are free for international pupils, drawing an array from students from across Latin America, Spain and further afield. Critics of the system want foreign students to pay dues. The juggling education infrastructure of Argentina has sparked yet another confrontational movement. Teachers, university staff have incurred a drastic fall in their total remuneration value which has declined to an all time low – at $150 a month.
The angry students and teachers bombarded through the capital streets hours after Milei declared economic victory from his presidential palace, boasting that Argentina had posted a quarterly fiscal surplus of 0.2% of gross domestic product. Despite his unwavering commitment to improve overall economic condition of Argentina, education has most certainly felt short of government support, aggravating the future assets of Argentina.
