Secondary Education in Argentina: Educational Trajectories and Experiences of Youth in Vulnerable Contexts.

Secondary education plays a crucial role in the lives and educational journeys of young people. It provides the essential knowledge needed to foster citizenship, gain employment, and prepare for higher education. Additionally, it serves as a key threshold for breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty. However, secondary education is currently facing a serious crisis, particularly in terms of inclusion. This is evident in rising dropout rates, questions regarding its relevance, and the challenge of diversification.

In this context, our research explores the educational characteristics, both pre- and post-pandemic, as well as the family and labor circumstances of young people in secondary education in Argentina. We analyze the educational trajectories and experiences of youth from vulnerable backgrounds, drawing on data from a longitudinal study conducted with a sample of 1,165 high school students from middle and low socioeconomic backgrounds in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

The results reveal that the post-COVID-19 pandemic period has introduced new challenges related to students' reconnection with the school environment. For instance, we observed an increase in atypical educational trajectories, with 20% of students exhibiting uncertain patterns before the pandemic. Some students re-enrolled during the pandemic, while others returned afterward, creating a fluctuating pattern of school attendance. Despite these challenges, the empirical evidence highlights that young people continue to value their educational experiences, which remain a key space for social inclusion.