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Math Shortfalls Deepen Argentina’s Secondary-School Crisis

A new analysis identifies mathematics as the chief drag on learning across cohorts.

Overview

  • A report from the Observatorio de Argentinos por la Educación shows only 10% of students who start primary finish secondary on time with required skills, down from 16% in 2020 and 13% in 2022.
  • Over the past two years, language scores rose 4 points nationwide while mathematics fell 5.5, with math performance pulling the overall index down.
  • Editorials press for a National Plan for Teaching Mathematics after a 2018 initiative faded, arguing it will need sustained funding and high-level political backing.
  • Opinion pieces attribute declining learning to lowered standards and weakened school authority, while noting most teachers persevere with scarce resources and falling pay.
  • Further proposals include merit-focused incentives such as contests and material supports, alongside warnings that low-income students are especially underprepared for university or work.