Argentinian co-operatives defend children’s right to education

The Argentinian Confederation of Cooperatives has called for safeguarding children’s rights to go to school. The confederation, also known as Cooperar, is responding to a statement by senator Alfredo de...

The Argentinian Confederation of Cooperatives has called for safeguarding children’s rights to go to school. The confederation, also known as Cooperar, is responding to a statement by senator Alfredo de Ángeli, who suggested legalising the participation of children in agricultural activities during harvest.

Cooperar’s regional economics commission said: “As representatives of a sector made up primarily of small and medium producers and family farms, we defend the right of boys and girls to finalise their secondary studies.” De Ángeli had argued that in many rural areas there are no secondary schools and, as a result, many young people aged 16-17 want to learn how to handle agricultural machinery, such as combine harvesters or tractors.

“Once they learn, they earn good salaries – but as they are underage one cannot train them so that when they become of age they can be included in this work,” he said.

But the commission said the distance between schools could not be a valid reason for children not to have access to education. “One cannot promote school desertion in the name of the deficiencies existing in the educational system and almost stimulate child labour,” read the statement [which is available online in Spanish].

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