Tens of Thousands March in Argentina Over University Funding Dispute

Tens of thousands of Argentines marched through major cities on Tuesday, with huge crowds in central Buenos Aires heading toward the presidential palace. According to Al Jazeera and France 24 reporting drawn from the same events, demonstrators protested budget shortfalls affecting the public university system.

The demonstrations included people of all ages and drew participants from diverse political backgrounds across the country. Argentina’s public universities have been tuition-free since 1949.

Congress approved a law last year to finance universities’ operating costs and raise academic salaries in line with inflation. The government has refused to implement the legislation and is challenging it in court. Alejandro Alvarez, undersecretary for university policy, said on May 13 2026 that the government had compensated universities for higher costs.

Unions countered that the increases fall far short of what is needed. Since late 2023, university professors’ salaries have fallen by about a third in real terms after adjusting for inflation, according to the main teachers’ federation.

The protests come as the government has reduced public education spending as part of broader efforts to cut the state budget. Officials have described universities as centers of ideological teaching. The funding law remains stalled as the legal challenge proceeds.

Budget shortfalls have affected staff wages and university operations nationwide.

” The demonstrations included university students, teachers and supporters. Photographs from the protests showed dense crowds filling streets near landmark buildings in Buenos Aires, with participants holding banners and chanting slogans defending education access.

Tuesday’s events highlighted divisions over the role and financing of public higher education in Argentina.