through Decree No. 787/2025published in Official Gazetteabolished the national government Decree No. 2417 of 1993Which has regulated for more than three decades the relationship between the state and the state Public education institutes run by the private sector In Argentina. This measure means eliminating the system of state control over Fees, tuition and fees Private schools charge fees, representing a change in the supervision structure that has been maintained since the 1990s.
With this new ruling, private educational institutions will no longer be required to do so Communicate in advance Quota values or Request advance permission The state may make changes to the amounts. The decree asserts that previous regulations “impose restrictions and requirements that make it difficult for privately run public educational institutions to adapt to the educational and economic reality of the country.”
According to official institutions, the abolished system was designed in a context in which the national government directly administered education. with Transferring educational powers to the governoratesThe executive authority deems this necessary Updating the regulatory framework To adapt it to the current federal structure and “favor a more favorable environment for the management of privately run educational institutions.”
The text highlights that the goal is to “ensure the sustainability of educational work” while at the same time “protecting the right to quality education.”
Arguments of the executive authority
Among the main grounds, the government says that State intervention in setting tariffs It generated “adverse effects” on the functioning of enterprises and their ability to survive economically. In particular, it indicates that commitment Inform and authorize tuition fees and fee amounts in advance Prevent private schools from Adjust your prices based on operating costs and market developments.
According to the decree, this mechanism “restricts the ability of schools to adapt” to inflation or changes in labor and service costs. Moreover, the text considers that the current system “also affects families,” as institutions are forced to set higher prices from the beginning of the academic year in anticipation of possible increases that are not approved by the competent authority.
The government explains that this dynamic “limits families’ ability to choose” and, in some cases, forces them to transfer their children to other institutions.
Freedom to set prices and conditions
Another notable point in the decree is what it refers to Property right and Freedom of contract From private institutes. The text stresses that these institutions “must be able to determine the terms of their employment and the salaries of their employees without the need for a license from the state.”
From the official point of view, the predictability imposed by the previous regime was born Tariff rigidityWhich may lead to a deterioration in the provision of education. According to the document, institutes that were unable to adjust their fees in the face of increased input costs or salaries faced difficulties in doing so Maintaining the operational structure Without resorting to emergency modifications or cost reductions.
Along these lines, the executive says that grants are greater Flexibility in resource management It will allow private enterprises to respond more dynamically to economic conditions, while strengthening them Competition between institutions.
Review the general regulatory framework
Decree No. 787 of 2025 regarding Ministry of Human Capitalthrough Education Secretaryto review the guidelines contained in Decree No. 2542 of 1991It is considered the basic standard for the private education financing system in the country.
The aim of this review will be to prepare a Proposing a comprehensive amendment For the regulatory framework, which allows progress towards a scheme based on The principle of free contract. According to the text, the goal is “to allow educational institutions to determine their own pricing and compensation policies, within the framework of fair competition and on the basis of market requirements.”
This regulatory update, according to the government, aims to: Harmonize existing rules With the educational decentralization model and with the current economic situation of the sector.
Context and scope of the procedure
Decree No. 2417/1993 was implemented during the period in which the Ministry of National Education carried out central supervision of the educational system. Over time, the authorities on privately managed education became more important It has been transferred to the provincial authoritiesWhich led to the coexistence of different regulatory standards on customs tariffs and quotas.
In this context, the executive authority proposes to seek to cancel the decree Standardization And abolish requirements deemed “outdated,” by leaving supervision of institutes located in their territories in the hands of the provinces.
This new provision is part of a series of reforms promoted by the government in various regulated sectors, with the aim of: Limiting state intervention In pricing and Strengthening competition plans.
In the case of the educational system, this measure would imply that each province would determine its own supervision mechanisms, while private institutions would have the possibility to adjust their rates independently, according to their costs and structure.
Next steps
With the publication of Decree No. 787/2025, the Ministry of Human Capital must Submitting a proposal to update Decree No. 2542 of 1991This establishes a new frame of reference for the relationship between the state and private education institutions.
Until this process is completed, private schools will be subject to, but not bound by, the regional regulations applicable in each jurisdiction Request a national permit to modify your tariffs.
Thus, the repeal of the 1993 decree represents a milestone The end of the system of state control Which lasted for more than thirty years, and opens the way for a new stage Regulatory review It aims to redefine the relationship between the state and the private educational sector in Argentina.
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