In the city of Córdoba, Argentina, the right to education is being reimagined and revitalized by the local government through a unique and inclusive initiative: the Aprendo Program. Launched in 2022 by the Subdirectorate of Socio-Educational Policies within the Secretariat of Social Policies and Human, Aprendo (“I learn” in Spanish) addresses a persistent gap: helping adults and young people overcome the obstacles that have historically kept them from completing their education.
A new beginning: the roots of Aprendo
For many adults in Córdoba, the route back to education was littered with challenges:
- Early school dropouts
- Interrupted studies
- Loss of critical documents
- Little awareness of adult education opportunities.
This scenario became especially acute among populations already struggling with other vulnerabilities; those working as urban servers, managing soup kitchens and care spaces, or striving to make ends meet as entrepreneurs within the city’s social economy.
Recognizing these barriers, the Aprendo Program was launched to create real, sustainable pathways back into education, with a rights-based, intersectional approach focused on the unique contexts of each participant.
Aprendo’s story began not with empty promises, but with deep research and listening. Starting in 2019, local authorities systematically gathered data on educational needs among beneficiaries of social programs. It soon became clear: the solution demanded not just another classroom, but a holistic, patient, and community-based system of support.
Credit: Municipality of Cordoba
How Aprendo changes lives
Aprendo is distinctive in its commitment to meet each student where they are. More than 972 young people and adults, women, men, and transgender people, have registered, with the majority ranging from 30 to 64 years old. For some, it is a second chance to learn to read and write. For others, it is an opportunity to finally complete primary or secondary school. The program operates across over 240 schools and 13 neighborhood support points, deeply embedded in local networks.
Central to Aprendo’s success is its personalized technical-pedagogical support. Every participant is paired with an expert team that maps their educational journey: working around missing documents, interrupted schooling histories, or the absence of prior academic records. For more than half over age 30, a complete reconstruction of their educational path was needed, made possible by patient guidance and inter-institutional cooperation.
But Aprendo doesn’t stop enrolling students. It ensures they stay engaged, offering a blend of on-site, blended, and virtual learning, shaped around participants’ real-world circumstances: work, family, health, or the challenge of unstable housing.
The power of partnership: volunteers and universities
Innovation in Aprendo also lies in its active academic volunteering model. In partnership with 12 universities and teacher-training institutes, a network of some 278 student volunteers provides academic mentoring free of charge. For these university students, the experience offers valuable practical training, while participants benefit from new skills, support, and friendship, all outside the rigid bounds of traditional schooling.
These unlikely classroom companions, students with different life stories, grow together, sharing the belief that education is not a privilege, but a fundamental right.
Credit: Municipality of Cordoba
Measured impact and growing success
The numbers tell a compelling story. Since 2022, Aprendo has seen sustained growth:
- From 609 enrollees in its first year to 972 by August 2025, with the program approaching 1,000 participants.
- Graduation rates have climbed annually: 318 individuals have completed their studies so far, 28 in primary and 11 in secondary education in 2025, totaling 39 this year.
- Importantly, retention rates consistently rise, and the program boosts local capacity by strengthening community support networks and encouraging family role-modelling: parents who return to school, often inspire their children to do the same.
A model for the future
What truly sets Aprendo apart is its transferability. Already, the model’s modular design and commitment to data systematization have made it adaptable for other municipalities and regions facing similar challenges. With a foundation solidly rooted in SDGs, Aprendo is more than a local program; it’s a beacon for innovative public policies in education, offering hope and practical strategies for inclusivity everywhere.
Credit: Municipality of Cordoba
For more information, visit cordoba.gob.ar.