The Government's project proposes to allocate 3.8 trillion pesos to the university budget, an amount that represents approximately half of what was requested by the National Interuniversity Council (CIN). Despite the difference, there is a possibility that the Government will increase the original amount to reach an agreement. Sources from the ruling party agree that it could exceed the initial 3.8 trillion pesos, although it would be below the 7.2 trillion requested by the rectors for operational expenses and teacher salaries.
Amid the negotiations, the Undersecretary of University Policies, Alejandro Álvarez, met at the Casa Rosada to address the budget issue and receive political instructions. After this meeting, Álvarez publicly spoke out against the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) after it initiated legal actions due to an audit conducted by the General Audit Office of the Nation (Sigen).
The debate on university funding has become a relevant topic, with multiple demands and conflicting positions. The discussion focuses on finding a middle ground between the rectors' demands and the Government's possibilities to extend the original budget to reach an agreement. Various political actors and officials are involved in the negotiation, which also encompasses other aspects beyond university funding.
A negotiation process has been opened in the Chamber of Deputies, where the budget and the distribution of funds for different sectors, including education, are being discussed. The possibility of reaching an agreement revolves around obtaining an amount close to the historical average of funding, without losing sight of the budgetary limitations and the demands of the various parties involved.
On the other hand, there are different positions within the political blocs, with stances ranging from requesting a significant increase in the budget to suggesting the need to redistribute already assigned funds. The complexity of the negotiations reflects the diversity of interests and demands involved in the budgetary discussion for the upcoming year.
