Hundreds of thousands of Argentines recently protested against cuts to higher public education under President Javier Milei’s administration, with students, professors, parents, and alumni from state-run universities participating. The protests were held in defense of free public university education in Argentina, which has been struggling with an economic crisis. Labour unions, opposition parties, and private universities also supported the demonstrations in Buenos Aires and other major cities like Cordoba, marking one of the largest protests against austerity measures implemented by Milei since he took office in December.
The protests in Buenos Aires alone drew about 100,000 people according to police estimates, while organizers claimed that closer to half a million participated, causing the city center to be paralyzed for hours. A million protesters were reported countrywide by a teachers union. Student Pablo Vicenti, a third-year medical student in Buenos Aires, expressed his anger at the government’s “brutal attack” on the university system, accusing them of defunding public education despite available resources. Milei, who won elections in November, had promised to cut public spending and reduce the budget deficit to zero, resulting in reduced subsidies for transport, fuel, and energy, and a loss in purchasing power of wage earners.
Since Milei’s government came into power, thousands of public servants have lost their jobs, and various anti-austerity protests have taken place. While the protests regarding cuts to higher public education were dismissed by the government as being politically motivated, they were significant in drawing attention to the impact of budget-slashing measures on education in Argentina. The demonstrations were supported by a wide range of actors in Argentine society, including students, professors, parents, alumni, labour unions, opposition parties, and private universities, indicating a large-scale pushback against the austerity measures introduced by Milei.
The protests highlighted the importance of free public university education in Argentina, particularly in the face of economic challenges and budget cuts. The large turnout of students and supporters in major cities like Buenos Aires and Cordoba demonstrated a collective commitment to defending the accessibility and quality of higher education in the country. The government’s response to the protests, dismissing them as political, raised concerns about the prioritization of public education and the impact of austerity measures on the university system.
As students and educators continue to advocate for the preservation of public education in Argentina, the protests served as a powerful platform to voice concerns about the government’s approach to budget cuts and its impact on higher education. The widespread support for the demonstrations from various sectors of society indicated a shared belief in the importance of investing in education as a cornerstone of societal well-being and development. Moving forward, the pushback against austerity measures is likely to continue as stakeholders seek to uphold the value of public education in Argentina amidst economic challenges and political changes.
