Carlos Pellegrini Higher School of Commerce

The Carlos Pellegrini Higher School of Commerce (ESCCP) is a public pre-university institution of secondary education in the City of Buenos Aires. It reports directly to the Rectorate of the University of Buenos Aires and is one of the most prestigious and demanding educational establishments in Argentina. The Pellegrini usually obtains outstanding results in Olympic Games in various sciences, and in addition, many renowned students and professors have passed through its classrooms. It was founded by President Carlos Pellegrini in 1890 and was established as the first School of Commerce in the country; being a pioneer in the granting of the secondary title of Commercial Expert.

Location

Stairs from the main hall.

ESCCP is located at 1851 Marcelo T. de Alvear street, between Riobamba and Callao Avenue, in the Recoleta neighborhood of Buenos Aires. His contact telephone number is (+54 11) 4815-4001/5. To get there you can use the bus lines 10, 12, 29, 37, 39, 59, 60, 99, 101, 106, 108, 109, 111, 124, 132, 140, 150 and 152, in addition to the line D and line B of the Buenos Aires Subway (Callao Station). In particular, it is located in the Recoleta neighborhood, very close to different faculties of the UBA, the university on which it depends.

Entrance Course

To enter Carlos Pellegrini, you must take an entrance course in which different areas are evaluated: Mathematics, Language, Geography and History. This one-year entrance course is the same one that applicants to the Buenos Aires National College take. Year after year, more than double the number of vacancies that the College can accommodate are registered. In this scenario, and throughout their history, both schools adopt the order of merit to gain admission. Here, the best averages (in order of merit) will fill the vacancies of the three shifts (Morning, Afternoon and Evening). The venues of the course are the aforementioned establishments and Normal 1, located on Av. Córdoba and Ayacucho, in front of the Palacio de Obras Sanitarias.

The evaluation method, prior to 2009, consisted of candidates taking twelve (12) partial exams with a maximum grade of 50: three (3) for Language, three (3) for Mathematics, three (3) for History and three (3) from Geography. At the end of the course, a "cut" score was established, that is, a minimum score was stipulated to enter in relation to the results obtained by all the contestants.

However, the ESCCP and CNBA system changed in 2009: The methodology currently consists of taking six (6) partials with a maximum mark of 150 and the partials of the second stage have a score out of 200: Two (2) from Language, two (2) from Mathematics, one (1) from Geography and one (1) from History. The sum of all the partials of the different subjects results in the final score. The main requirement to not be left out is to add 400 final points, among the six exams. Then the number of vacancies is established and, later, the ranking of applicants that will enter. In quantity, those who manage to enter are 450 applicants per year out of a total of approximately 2,000 who begin the course. Shift assignment is done by lottery. Those students who have a sibling in the school have the possibility of opting for their same turn and thus avoid the lottery, in order to facilitate the organization of families that have two or more children in the School.

Curriculum

The inner courtyard of Carlos Pellegrini.

Aula del Carlos Pellegrini.

By depending directly on the UBA and not on the Buenos Aires Secretary of Education, both the depth of its study plan and its teaching methodology differ with respect to other establishments in the City of Buenos Aires and Argentina in general, thus achieving his academic distinction. This means that in most subjects deeper issues are seen than in other secondary schools, whether public or renowned private.

Although the specialty is Commercial, Carlos Pellegrini has been deepening his Social-Humanistic curriculum, thus generating a much broader vision in his students. Subjects such as Solidarity Action provide a space for reflection and social awareness of the student, thus enriching their academic training.

In addition, through exchange trips and planning during the year, foreign language education is strongly promoted: English and French.

Orientation and recovery period

Those students who did not manage to reach 26 points in a subject but add at least 16 (average 4 points; students who add less than 16 points or whose integrators do not exceed 4 points, must apply directly to the February Exam Table) must be submitted during the remedial period of November. In said period, the professor who taught them during the year must, during the days and hours in which he taught the division of these students, introduce himself and answer all the doubts that they may have regarding the subject in question. yes or to the evaluation.

At the end of these two weeks of remediation, we proceed to evaluate the knowledge acquired by the students. The teacher prepares an evaluation that covers all the topics and knowledge acquired in the year, however, the teacher has the option of taking each failed semester, instead of taking both semesters (if the student failed both semesters, he must take them regardless of the teacher's decision)

To pass, it is necessary, as during the regular year, to reach 7 points. If less than 4 points are obtained, the student takes the subject directly to the February exam table. The student who obtains a grade between 4 and 6 points will take the matter to the next evaluation period: the December exam table.

December exam table

The December exam table is a group of three or more teachers who evaluate all the students from the different divisions who have failed the subject in question. Unlike the make-up period , the test is scored by three professors and all divisions take the test at the same location.

If it is not approved in this instance, the student must appear for the next recovery instance, the February exam table.

February exam table

This instance has the same mechanism as the December exam table.

March examination table

The March exam table is the last instance before the subject becomes previous. Except for what has been said, and the fact that in this instance no more than two subjects can be taken, it is the same as those of December and February.

Not passing the subject in question in this instance means having a previous subject. In the event that the subjects not approved in this instance are two or more, it will mean not having managed to pass the year, being automatically free since in the ESCCP the years are not repeated.

If the student with two or more previous ones wanted to continue their studies at Carlos Pellegrini, they may, as free student, appear at the June exam table. Many students with two previas tend to change schools since the other educational establishments in the city of Buenos Aires accept this amount as valid to pass the year.

July exam table

Students in free status or regular students who have previous subjects are presented at this table. Its characteristics are similar to those of December, February and March, although the number of students is significantly less.

History

Creation and early years of the School of Commerce of the Capital of the Republic

Carlos Pellegrini, founder of the school that today bears his name.

At the end of the XIX century, when Argentina was transforming and growing economically, the need arose to meet the demands of a thriving trade and the training of young professionals in the accounting area; in a community where great socioeconomic changes were manifested by the impact of scientific and technical advances in the world.

On February 19, 1890, through a decree promulgated by Carlos Pellegrini in his capacity as acting vice president of the Executive Branch and endorsed by the Minister of Justice, Worship and Public Instruction, Filemón Posse; The Business School of the Capital of the Republic was created, which began operating in a building located at Alsina 1552 street.

In his first study plan, fields of knowledge related to mathematics and commercial calculus, bookkeeping and foreign languages, necessary for the growing international trade that was expanding, stood out.

Juan José Ryan, first director (1890-1892).

In 1892 Minister Balestra introduced the first reform of the curriculum that established its duration at 5 years, at the end of which the diplomas of Public Accountant, Public Translator of the French and English languages, Public Calligrapher or Expert were awarded. Trade.

In 1894 a new reform divided the 5 years into 2 "Preparatory Courses" and 3 of "Business Courses", after which the title of "Licenciado en Ciencias Comerciales" was obtained. To enter the "Preparatory Courses" Students were required to be 14 years old and take an entrance exam on writing, reading, arithmetic, grammar, and geography of the Republic.

Training at the Otto Krause Technical College and the College of Commerce

The Minister of Public Instruction Antonio Bermejo, belonging to the government of José Evaristo Uriburu (in the period 1895-1898), brought to the National Congress the proposal to include an item of money to create an Annex Section in the National School of Commerce, which later developed as the National Industrial School (later Otto Krause Technical School).

Cariátide by the front door.

In 1905, the School was categorized as Higher School.

Meanwhile, other business schools had been created in the country and in order to give them a general organic plan, the Executive Power, being Minister of Public Instruction Dr. Joaquín V. González, issued on February 16 of 1905, a decree dividing the existing schools into three categories: Superior, Medium and Elementary. The School of Commerce of the Capital belonged to the first category, where the following courses were taught:

• For Dependants Idoneos (nocturno) with 3 years of study.
• For Mercantile Peritos, 4 years old.
• For Public Accountants, 3 years old.

At that time, the acquisition of the land located on Charcas street (today Marcelo T. de Alvear) between Callao and Riobamba, destined for the School building that would be inaugurated in 1909 and in which it currently operates, designed by the architect Gino Aloisi.

In 1908, at the initiative of Deputy Juan Balestra, the School was renamed Carlos Pellegrini, in memory of its founder.

Training of the Faculty of Economic Sciences

On the basis of this School and by decree dated February 26, 1910 of President José Figueroa Alcorta, endorsed by his Minister of Public Instruction Rómulo S. Naón, the Institute of Higher Commercial Studies, which after some vicissitudes of suppression and restoration, became the current Faculty of Economic Sciences (UBA). As of September 30, 1913, the Escuela Superior de Comercio became dependent on the University of Buenos Aires, with the character of preparatory courses attached to the aforementioned Faculty.

In 1931, by provision of the new university statutes, the School was detached from the Faculty of Economic Sciences, becoming directly dependent on the Rectorate of the University of Buenos Aires and its Superior Council. In 1946 the studies were extended to 6 years as technical knowledge intensified and humanities subjects were introduced.

Seven years later, in 1953, women joined the student body in the afternoon shift. The only female presence so far were among the teachers: the first female teacher had joined the school in 1923. In 1961 women entered the morning shift for the first time and in 1966 the afternoon shift.

In 1968, by means of a resolution of the Rectorate of the University, the current study plan was modified, based on the conclusions of the report of a commission appointed to carry out an analysis of the curricular structures, objectives and contents of said plan.

It was established that the purpose of the school was to prepare its students to give them comprehensive training both from the intellectual and social point of view, providing them with the technical elements that would allow them to practice the primary accounting profession and the humanistic and scientific ones that would base their culture and enable them to directly enter any discipline that is taught at the university. The traditional denomination of the title of Commercial Expert was modified by that of Commercial Bachelor.

The modified study plan was applied from 1969, but its implementation was left without effect from 1973. At that time the plan was reduced to five years, once again granting the title of Commercial Expert.

Military intervention and subsequent normalization

Italian architecture of the building.

Following the coup d'état of March 24, 1976, the military intervention of the university asked the authorities of the school to draw up a new study plan that restores the basic objectives, its prestige and the level academic that traditionally characterized it (sic). This is how the 1977 study plan arose, which restored the 6-year duration of studies, granting the title of Bachiller in Commercial Sciences.

Restored the democratic system in the country in December 1983, the Normalizing Rector of the UBA created by Resolution No. 943 of August 6, 1984, the Advisory Commission of the Pedagogical Area of the ESSCP. It became a channel of expression for the different components of the educational community that participated in the pedagogical reform.

The Curricular Reform of 1985 established a complete 5-year Middle Cycle divided into a General Cycle and a Higher Cycle.

The study plan was organized into a complete Medium Cycle lasting five years, divided into:

• a three-year General Cycle and formative content in an integral sense;
• a Two-year Higher Cycle that gives continuity to general training and incorporates specific training contents. Two possible orientations are offered to the student's choice: Administrative- Accounting and Socio-Economic.

At the end of this Intermediate Cycle, the student graduates with the title of Commercial Expert. There is an optional one-year Technical Cycle where subjects equivalent to similar ones of the Common Basic Cycle of the University of Buenos Aires and other subjects are studied whose purpose is the improvement of the student's labor and technical capacity. At the end of this additional cycle, the student graduates with the title of Bachiller in Commercial Sciences.

After an experience of more than ten years, in 1999, the study plan was rethought and some changes were gradually introduced with the aim of adapting it to the new demands of society and the world of work and to changes in the workplace. knowledge and technologies and respond to the problems detected from an institutional diagnostic work carried out during the years 1997 and 1998.

2007 crisis and recovery

School classroom.

During 2007, after the end of Abraham Gak's administration, which paved the way for Viegas', Carlos Pellegrini suffered an institutional crisis manifested in the takeover of the establishment and more than 80 bomb threats, since the Students did not agree with the change in the curriculum proposed by the rector (Plan that was never fully known).

At the end of 2007, Rector Juan Carlos Viegas had to resign for not being able to control the crisis, and Lic. Héctor Oscar Pastorino took over. In the following year, 2008, the number of enrollees decreased by half due to the loss of prestige of the School, so that almost all of the applicants were able to enter.

Then, after the creation of the Resolutive School Council, which was put into operation at the end of 2010, the superior council of the UBA elected Jorge Fornasari as the new rector, starting in 2011. After two months of management, the it unleashed a new crisis which was followed by other rectors who lasted a very short time (Raúl Juárez Roca and Claudia Plonzyk) until the appointment of Marcelo Roitbarg, with an outstanding teaching career.

From the administration of Marcelo Roitbarg, a slow recovery of the Prestige began, which continued in the administrations of Leandro Rodríguez (first Rector to finish his term after Gak) and Ana Barral, highlighting the incorporation of virtual panels in the classrooms, the Veni al Pelle program, the participation of students in multiple Olympics, exchanges with schools in other countries, even a student who received a scholarship from NASA with which, today, Pellegrini achieved the same number of applicants in the admission course prior to the 2007 crisis.

Politics and government

List of Directors and Rectors

• Juan José Ryan (19/02/1890-07/04/1893)
• Santiago Fitz Simon (07/04/1893-01/07/1914)
• Fermin Eguía (01/07/1914-31/08/1921)
• Wenceslao Urdapilleta (T.M.) (01/09/1921-04/05/1931)
• Alberto Cassagne Serres (T.N.) (01/09/1921-04/05/1931)
• José González Galé (T.T.) (01/09/1921-01/03/1929)
• Luis Moreno (T.T.) (01/03/1929-04/05/1931)
• Wenceslao Urdapilleta (04/05/1931-01/08/1945)
• Luis Moreno (first with the title of rector) (02/08/1945-21/01/1951)
• Evaristo Manuel Piñón Filgueiras (6/11/1950-01/03/1953)
• Oscar Salvador Martini (01/03/1953-27/05/1955)
• Evaristo Rogelio Medrano (30/06/1955-01/09/1955)
• Eduardo Luis Mangiante (01/09/1955-26/09/1955)
• Carlos Arturo Ienna (interventor)(01/10/1955-05/12/1955)
• Hilmar Didier Digiorgio (05/12/1955-18/04/1962)
• Hugo Vicente Biolcati (18/04/1962-23/11/1971)
• Carlos Alberto Rinaldi (interventor) (24/11/1971-29/12/1971)
• Álvaro Cartelli (01/02/1972-01/06/1973)
• Ramón Antonio Vilutis (05/06/1973-20/09/1974)
• Pablo César Marini (07/11/1974-25/04/1975)
• Carlos Celestino Tizado (25/04/1975-05/09/1975)
• Cesar Felipe Costa (09/09/1975-12/04/1976)
• Álvaro Cartelli (12/04/1976-27/12/1983)
• José Roberto Writel (05/01/1984-19/03/1993)
• Abraham Leonardo Gak (19/03/1993-23/05/2007)
• Juan Carlos Viegas (20/06/2007-30/11/2007)
• Héctor Oscar Pastorino (01/12/2007-31/12/2010)
• Jorge Fornasari (01/02/2011-19/05/2011)
• Raúl Juárez Roca (19/05/2011- 31/05/2011)
• Claudia Plonczyk (31/05/2011-14/07/2011)
• Marcelo Roitbarg (14/07/2011-28/02/2015)
• Leandro Esteban Rodríguez (01/03/2015- 01/03/2019)
• Ana Barral (01/03/2019- in charge)

Historical list of Presidents and General Secretaries of the Student Union

The following are the presidents (created in March 1984) throughout their history, with their respective years and political groups.

Featured students