Rural School Graduates One Student in Catamarca

Why this is here: Over 60 rural schools have closed in the Northwest region of Argentina in the past 20 years due to a lack of students.

In El Durazno, Catamarca, Argentina, thirteen-year-old Joaquín Araya recently completed primary school as the sole student at Escuela Primaria Rural N°133. The school, located 55 kilometers from Tinogasta, operates with a small, multigraded class size. Declining birthrates are causing school closures across northern Argentina, with over 60 rural schools closing in the Northwest region in the last two decades.

The organization Misiones Rurales Argentinas supports rural schools and teachers. In 2024, they worked with roughly 3,000 teachers and 33,000 students across 690 schools, providing supplies and training. However, economic hardship and difficult terrain continue to present challenges for students and schools.

Misiones Rurales is now focusing on a scholarship campaign to help students continue to secondary school. They acknowledge that distance, poor roads, and lack of resources often lead to students dropping out. The organization hopes to provide both financial aid and tutoring to support these students as they pursue their education.