Argentina eases school voucher rules amid fee arrears

The Argentine government has relaxed two key requirements for the educational voucher program, ensuring families with unpaid private school fees do not lose the benefit. The measure, formalized in Resolution 505 published in the Official Gazette, suspends until the end of 2026 the application of articles 14 and 21 (inc. E) of the program's regulations, which previously allowed for suspension or cancellation of vouchers due to arrears. The decision responds to rising school fee delinquency, with the aim of protecting students' educational continuity during the current school year. Source: Clarin Source: La Voz

What changed

• Article 14 required schools to report beneficiaries who owed fees and stipulated that after two unpaid installments, the benefit would be suspended until payment was regularized, with retroactive payment allowed. Source: Clarin
• Article 21 (inc. E) established the definitive cessation of the benefit for owing three or more school fees. Source: Clarin
• With the suspension, families can accumulate unpaid fees without losing the voucher until December 2026. Source: La Voz

Program details

The voucher covers up to 50% of the monthly fee for students in private schools with at least 75% state funding. Eligibility requires family income not exceeding seven minimum wages, equivalent to $2,636,200 in August 2026. In 2025, 504,808 beneficiaries received vouchers across the three educational levels. Source: Clarin

Context

The relaxation comes amid rising economic hardship. According to the Association of Private Education Institutes of Argentina (AIEPA), average delinquency reached 11%, up from 7% the previous year. Source: La Voz