EL PROGRAMA NACIONAL “VOUCHERS EDUCATIVOS” Y LA ORIENTACIÓN EDUCATIVA DEL CONSERVADURISMO LIBERTARIO EN ARGENTINA (2024-2025)

Abstract

Shortly after taking office, President J. Milei's Ministry of Human Capital—which absorbed the former Ministry of Education—launched the so-called "Educational Vouchers Assistance Program," consisting of direct financial assistance to families with children attending compulsory education in private schools with state subsidies. In this way, schools indirectly receive a new contribution from the State, in this case the national government, in addition to the funding received from provincial governments. This policy has a long history in Argentina dating back to 1947. Initially proposed for the first half of 2024, the Program was extended to the second half of that year and continues into 2025. Based on available official data, this article describes the characteristics of the current policy, understanding it as part of a process of deepening mechanisms for transferring public revenue to the private sector and as a new social policy focused on impoverished segments of the working class. The impact of the measure on the processes of strong segmentation of the Argentine educational system and its relationship with the conservative-libertarian educational agenda in its national version is analyzed.

KEYWORDS: J. Milei Government – ​​Argentina / Educational Vouchers Program / privatization / targeting / segmentation