The laws governing education in Argentina are very liberal, giving everyone in the country a right to a free education, regardless of race, creed or national origin. This practice is protected by the constitution of Argentina, and because of it there is a high level of integration among many ethnic groups in the country.  Public education is directed under the auspices of provincial legislators, and the president together with the cabinet determines the numbers, types and locations of the individual schools. Relevant monetary and administrative issues are reported to the Secretary of State for Culture and Education who decides on policies regarding programs of study, curricula, personnel policies and certification of teachers and administrators.

These liberal policies did not always exist in Argentina. Before 1816 the Catholic Church was in charge of education, and the schools were almost exclusively catechistic from the primary through tertiary levels. After 1816 there were still many schools that continued under Catholic administration, but in the 1880s forces against the clericalists banned all religious education in public schools. After this all children between the ages of six and twelve received totally free education. In 1884 national law 1420 was created which extended the right to a free education also to adults.

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