ARGENTINA:

25 students dressed in red, white, and black school uniforms sit closely together in the classroom at Instituto River Plate.

From the rather spartan classroom, they can look down at a perfect grass field. This is where the River Plate football club plays its home matches, and where Argentina’s biggest stars often come for national games.

But right now, the field is quiet.

All eyes are on teacher Laura Llansó.

The topic for the class is sports journalism. The students are well-prepared, and Laura is giving them tips on interview techniques and source criticism.

– I’ve always enjoyed teaching. Each group of students presents new challenges, and it requires me to constantly reinvent myself, she says afterward.

– The day I no longer enjoy it, I’ll quit.

Taking the bus across the city 

Instituto River Plate is a private school in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. The school has around 1,000 students, from elementary through high school, and it also has a small university division.

Laura teaches communication and journalism to the oldest high school students.

For 15 years, she has worked as a teacher, both at public and private schools. Now, she does both.

Every afternoon, after finishing her classes at River Plate, she takes the bus to the other side of Buenos Aires to teach at a public school. Many of the students there are adults coming to finish their high school education.

– At River Plate, my job is to educate citizens with autonomy and critical thinking. The public school, however, has far fewer resources, and the teachers’ role is much more social. We’re constantly working to prevent students from dropping out, says Laura.

This requires helping students with many issues beyond just academics.

– Many don’t come just for the lessons, but for care and a meal.

Budget cuts with a chainsaw 

Argentina is facing a major economic crisis. The country has the highest inflation rate in the world. 57.4% of the population lives in poverty, and crime is increasing.

The current government took office in December 2023, led by right-wing populist Javier Milei. During his campaign, he used an image of a chainsaw as a symbol of the drastic reforms and cuts he planned to implement in the public sector.

Many Argentinians supported him because, after two decades under the Peronist party, the country was on the verge of yet another state bankruptcy. The result was a landslide victory for Milei—and significant cuts in sectors like education. Various national funds that contributed about 10% of public school teachers’ salaries have also been annulled.

– Cuts and inflation are eating away at much of our salary. It’s hard to survive on a teacher’s salary. I’ve had to take an extra job as an IT consultant myself, Laura explains.

Thousands of school kitchens have also seen massive budget cuts. This means no or less food at schools in vulnerable areas.

There, school meals have been crucial in keeping children in school instead of working.

At the same time, the prices of books and school supplies have risen 450% since last year after government subsidies were removed.

– The life of a teacher is an uphill battle, Laura says.

– We constantly have to adjust to the changing economic and political reality.

Strike ban 

The Argentine government also wants to define education as a "socially critical function." This would make it illegal for teachers to strike.

The government also plans to change the law to “punish indoctrination by teachers.” In other words, they believe that in many places, there is intentional political and ideological indoctrination by teachers.

– I personally believe that school is a crucial place for young people, a place where they learn about sharing, cooperation, diversity, and tolerance. School is the best place for growing up in a healthy way, says Laura.

But she fears what the situation in the country will mean for the students. And for her as a teacher.

– I would love to have the same financial rewards as teachers in other countries. And I would love to be valued as a public servant with an important role. That’s not the case in Argentina today. Maybe it never will be.