Racism, exclusion and inequities in the Argentine university system. Lessons learned from a consultation with students and professionals from indigenous peoples in the province of Chaco

Abstract

Argentina is one of the most advanced countries in Latin America in terms of human rights. It also stands out for the free and broadly inclusive regulations of its public university system. However, it exhibits structural inequities of a racist nature, legal inconsistencies and public policy inadequacies that violate the constitutional rights of Afro-descendant and indigenous people and communities to have access and fruitful higher education. The first sections of this article offer a brief analysis of the importance and challenges of the problem raised and its relation to the reproduction and naturalization of racism in Argentine society. Subsequently, with the purpose of deepening the understanding of some of these problems, it presents some results of an exploratory consultation carried out with a group of students and professionals of indigenous peoples in the province of Chaco. Finally, it discusses some lessons and recommendations derived from this consultation.