Now let’s go to the concept itself, the educational voucher is a coupon given to each student to support their education, they usually last for one year each.
The voucher is a non-transferable document to prevent it from being wasted.
The innovation created by the vouchers, if we talk about the education system, is that currently the state finances the school (offer) for the students to go; With the voucher system, the state finances students (demand).
In Finland, a culture completely different from ours, the logic of the market has been developed to a point where the director has a function similar to that of an entrepreneur.
This system is also used in South Korea, Singapore, Sweden, Finland, the state of Wisconsin (USA), 5 regions of Italy, Hong Kong, etc.
The only experience in the region that comes closest to the voucher is not in Chile, as it is commonly known, but in Nicaragua. In that country, the autonomous school program was implemented as a pilot experience starting in 1993.
The program is based on 3 axes:
1. The autonomy of school administration. 2. The participation of parents in the selection of directors and 3. The financial; the income is calculated according to the number of students, the level of education and their geographical location, said that the financing went to the schools, the project failed miserably. According to Milei’s proposal, which can be found in its government platform; The Educational Financing Institute will be created to channel the transfers calculated based on the number of students enrolled in each establishment. These transfers will be made directly by private management of educational institutions or by provincial or municipal agencies or departments that coordinate state-run schools in their areas. When it is
In any case, the provincial or municipal institute will assume the responsibility of distributing the school subsidy according to the number of students enrolled in each school institution.
Today, let’s talk about education in Argentina and its deterioration over time. Argentina suffered a brutal process of privatization of education that began in 1947 and continues. Since 2004 it has deepened, but not because of clear policies, but rather none of the national governments have done anything to reverse it.
Today 32% of compulsory education students go to private schools: 50% in CABA, 40% in Buenos Aires suburbs, Córdoba and Santa Fe In Catamarca, enrollment in the private sector has increased 170% since 2003, families in all income level leave the public school and pay (in different amounts) for the school
privately because they believe that their children’s education is better.
We are currently going through an electoral context with social degradation, three-digit annual inflation and privatization of education, complaints of segregation or inequality that do not seem to have an impact on families that make an economic effort to self-segregate and escape the collapse of education by paying for what they do not have.
There are many people who do not think it is bad to be treated as a client and even see it as a sign of respect.
Speaking directly about the reform of education that Milei wants to make if he is president, from my position, I do not see how it is possible to implement an education voucher system from the national executive branch because in our Alberdian constitutional framework.
Today’s education is bad, but it could be worse, there are ways to guarantee quality, efficiency and equality of options for everyone without resorting to “every man for himself.”
The best defense in favor of public schools is not “just” criticizing vouchers but having policies that support them, that improve them and that do not neglect their teachers, something that has been missing for a long time.
The current situation is difficult, we must change deeply but always defend education and, within it, public education. Education is, is and is the only true bridge to social mobility. If we are able to change the education system in the pedagogical, curricular, administrative and organizational dimensions, we will have a useful system to serve the present and future generations, in this way, and in only in this way, we can go to the country that once went.
“Now the nation does not ask us for blind idolatry, but for righteous worship; not cries of enthusiasm, but the act of understanding; because such, although useful and necessary in heroic times, not in a time when cold and carefree reflection should reign” Esteban Echeverría.
