Argentine primary students reach sixth grade on time, but only half learn expected material

A recent report by Argentinos por la Educación reveals a stark contrast in Argentine primary education: while 94% of students progress through the system without repeating grades or dropping out, only half of them possess satisfactory knowledge in both language and mathematics upon reaching sixth grade. This means that out of 100 students who began first grade in 2020, merely 50 met the academic benchmarks by 2025.

The "Primary School Results Index 2025" report, authored by education specialist Irene Kit, María Sol Alzú, and Martín Nistal, analyzes student progression and academic performance. It combines data on grade repetition and dropout rates with results from national assessments like Aprender 2025. While the rate of students completing primary school on time has improved over the past decade, reaching 94% in 2025, the learning outcomes paint a less optimistic picture.

Provincial differences are notable. While regions like Tierra del Fuego and Neuquén show near-universal progression, others like Corrientes and Misiones lag behind. Even among students who progressed on time, only 54% achieved satisfactory or advanced results in both subjects. The capital, Buenos Aires City, led with 73%, followed by Córdoba (62%) and Buenos Aires Province (55%). Conversely, Chaco (36%), Tucumán (42%), and Santiago del Estero (43%) showed significantly lower achievement rates.

Mathematics emerged as a particular challenge nationwide, with only 58% of students achieving satisfactory or advanced results, compared to 79% in language. Experts note that this difficulty in mathematics is a long-standing issue in Argentina and Latin America, evident in both national and international assessments. The challenge now, according to Nistal, is to maintain progress in language and literacy while simultaneously addressing the weaknesses in mathematics.

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Historically, Mathematics is the great weakness of Argentina and the rest of the Latin American countries.