Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is a method of education that teaches students practical skills and offers hands-on experience in the workplace. With more than one-third of Argentina living below the national poverty line and unemployment rates increasing to levels like those recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, access to education and employment opportunities remains critical. By providing skills that will help people acquire employment and succeed in their careers, vocational training in Argentina can help to reduce rates of unemployment and poverty.

Poverty in Argentina

Although there are many factors that contribute to poverty in Argentina, two factors that seem to be related to the risk of poverty are education level and employment status. Among Argentines who are aged 16 and older, 19.6% of those living below the poverty line do not have an education and 18.3% only have a primary education.

Additionally, in early 2025, Argentina reported an unemployment rate of 7.9%, the highest level recorded since 2021. This decrease in official employment corresponds with many workers transitioning to unreliable sources of income such as self-employment and casual jobs.

What Vocational Education Offers

TVET offers students skills and experience working in specific career fields such as:

• Construction
• Services (e.g., Administration, Tourism, Graphic Design, Multimedia Training and Computer Science)
• Agriculture
• Manufacturing (e.g., Mechanics, Energy, Electronics, Clothing and Textiles)
• Health
• Safety, Environment and Hygiene

TVET consists of three levels of vocational education. Secondary Technical Education combines general high school education with training in specific technical industries and teaches students about professional practices to prepare them for entering the workplace. After completing secondary education (technical or general), students can move on to Higher Technical Education, allowing them to specialize their skill set within a certain industry. Finally, Professional Training is offered to people already in the workforce so that they can improve, renew and acquire professional skills.

The Impact of Vocational Education in Argentina

After the socio-economic crisis that occurred in Argentina in the early 2000s, the government passed two laws that reestablished the importance of vocational education. In 2005, the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Law (LETP as the Spanish acronym) was passed. A year later, the National Education Law (LEN as the Spanish acronym) replaced the Federal Education Law. The main goals of these laws are to:

• Improve the coordination in Argentina’s education system across different regions
• Address the unique needs of various school districts while complying with federal guidelines
• Guarantee the right to an education
• Improve the inclusivity and quality of higher education 

The LETP emphasizes increased funding and improving the quality of vocational education through updates in the curriculum, infrastructure and technology used to teach students.

These changes within the TVET system are important because higher education has been shown to reduce the risk of unemployment and increase average wages. Among unemployed Argentines, only 4.1% of them have a post-secondary education compared to 7.8% who do not have a secondary education and 7.2% who do. Additionally, people with a post-secondary education tend to earn 63% more in wages compared to people with just a secondary education.

In the early 1980s, the nonprofit organization Star of Hope established a small school in the remote region of Namqom that continues to help people develop practical skills to gain employment. Subjects taught at this school have included hairdressing, bricklaying, electrical engineering and cooking and baking. Selsa Diaz, a cooking and baking instructor, stated that the school’s primary objective was that “each student should be able to have some income” upon graduation. The 36 students at this school learn how to bake and cook various dishes. After completing their course work, students receive a diploma as proof of what they accomplished. Diaz remarked on the work ethic of her students stating that “everybody makes an effort to learn everyday.”

Looking Ahead

As the rates of poverty and employment have continued to rise in Argentina, the importance of learning practical skills and gaining job experience has become increasingly apparent. The TVET system seeks to empower students by giving them the knowledge, skills and confidence to obtain financial stability. By providing people with higher education and a chance to acquire skills that will benefit them in the workplace, vocational education in Argentina can also provide people with the opportunity to escape the cycle of poverty.

– Lily Alexander

Lily is based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr