education

In Argentina education begins at the age of 3 with kindergarten. Until a few years ago this stage was optional.


Educational stages

3-6 years old: kindergarten


6-12: primary school


12-17: secondary school

There are various types of schools in Argentina.

Private schools:

Even though they get subventions from the Government, fees are paid to attend to these schools. They are all Catholic and in most cases bilingual. Some offer “double shift” (students attend morning and afternoon, unlike public schools) Also, students are required to dress in the specific school uniform when attending these sort of schools.






Public schools:

As they get subventions from the Government, they cannot charge students. Contributions are always required though, as money is always needed.

Religion is banned from public schools as it’s understood that in their condition of public no differences should be made with students of other religions nor should any religion be imposed to anyone.
Public schools students don’t wear a school uniform, but all students of public school are required to dress in the same white lab coat. This was a law created along with schools themselves in Argentina, so as to make everyone the same, regardless age, school, province, culture, or any other difference.

Public schools work in two or three shifts, but student only attend to one. This is, morning or afternoon, or night. Night shifts are only for overage people who couldn’t graduate.

Hence, public schools students only attend school for a maximum of 5 hours.

Dinning schools:

These sort of schools are settled in poor areas where the students main aim is to have a daily meal.


As the conditions are so extreme, the educational side is left aside a bit more, and teachers focus more in supporting and helping the students.

 
 
 
 
 
Universities:
 

 There are two types of Universities in Argentina: public ones and private ones.


Private Universities require all sorts of fees to enter, study, sit exams and graduate. But they guarantee organisation.

Public Universities are free of any charge whatsoever and let the student take his own decisions as when to sit exams, how often, whether to attend to class or not and so on.

However, just as the student provides no security to the University, neither does the University provide any kind of good organisation. By this, I refer to random strikes, random change in exam dates, and so on.

Whether you attend a private or a public University, none offer accommodation.

The Obelisco

The Obelisco is a monument present in so many postards of Buenos Aires, that it had to be inlcuded here.

It is a 68 meter tall obelisk shaped monument, built for the 400th anniversary of Buenos Aires.



It's located in the middle of 9 de Julio Avenue, the widest in Latin America.

It was built by a German company in only 31 days and it required the demolition of the church located in the spot.

The location was chosen after this church being the first place in which the Argentinian flag was ever waved.
It might seem as its head has the shape of a pointy piramyd but its top is actually blunt and has a lightning conductor.

Just as Plaza de Mayo is used for political manifestations, the Obelisco is used for artistical pourposes.


A few years ago, it was covered in a pink rubber condom to commemorate AIDS day.

Moving Around

As an old Argentinian saying prays, "God is Argentinian but his office is in Buenos Aires", meaning whatever you need is in this city, and in this city only.

Buenos Aires isn't just the only city with a subway system, it's also the only connection between national flights, the most cosmopolitan city in the country and the soul of any paperwork you might ever need.

Despite this city's large extension and scattered hot spots, you'll see that transport doesn't quite cover much of the city.

The subway system covers very little terrain of the city, and doens't quite give you access to many of the main tourist spots in Buenos Aires.

Nevertheless it's the fastest and safest transport, and even a tourist attraction in itself as many stations remain untouched from the day of their construction.

There's a subway line which has a wooden interior and fancy ceiling lamps.