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Buenos Aires Cuts Allowed Secondary School Absences to 20 Per Year Ahead of March 5 Start

City officials tie the stricter limits to a dropout-prevention push that pairs family outreach with new data tools under the Buenos Aires Aprende plan.

Overview

  • The policy takes effect with the new school year on March 5 and applies to public and private secondary schools, covering about 200,000 students in CABA.
  • Students face a maximum of five absences per bimester as discretionary exceptions are removed, with late arrivals and out-of-term vacations counted toward limits.
  • Attendance regularity will be checked more frequently, and those who lose it must recover content during winter recess or in the December–February window.
  • From the second unjustified absence, the city will contact families via BOTI WhatsApp and activate the Early Warning System to provide tailored support.
  • Officials cite a 19.6% absenteeism rate, nine in ten absences unjustified, and an average of 27 missed days as the rationale for emphasizing classroom presence.