Last Wednesday, the government of Javier Milei sent to Congress a law called Omnibús, in which it aims to reform several areas of the economy, politics and education and also delegate legislative powers due to a multiple emergency.

The project is called the Law of Bases and Starting Points for the Freedom of Argentines and comes a week after the controversial Decree of Necessity and Urgency (DNU) approved by the ultra-liberal president and which will come into effect this Friday.

If the project is approved, Congressional lawmakers will allow the executive branch to declare a public emergency on economic, financial, fiscal, social, pension, security, defense, tariff, energy, health and social area until at least December 31, 2025. The state of emergency can be extended for another two years, covering the entire mandate of Milei.

What makes Argentina attractive to students from Ecuador?

In total, the government is proposing a law that will reform, delete or add 664 articles of law.

One of the reforms the country wants to implement concerns higher education and would affect Ecuadorian students who want to travel to the South American country to attend a public university.

In 2018, Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility recorded that 3,100 citizens wanted to study third-degree subjects, master’s degrees or doctorates, mainly in the field of medicine. In 2020, more than 2,500 Ecuadorian students enrolled in undergraduate universities in Argentina.

Regarding the following years (2020-2021), a report from the Synthesis of University Statistical Information of the Nation’s Ministry of Education shows that 2,636 Ecuadorians were studying a bachelor’s degree.

Article 553 provides that Article 2 bis of Law No. 24,521 is reformed to establish that studies at public higher education institutions shall be free of charge for all native and foreign Argentine nationals who have permanent residence in the country. type of charge, rate, tax, rate or fee, direct or indirect.

These requirements must be met by Ecuadorians to study in Argentina

“State-run higher education institutions and national universities may, in the exercise of their autonomy, establish fees for educational services or educational pathways for students who do not meet the requirements set out in the first paragraph,” it indicated.

The regulations also provide these students with the opportunity to hold grants or inter-state or inter-institutional agreements. (JO)