Chilean student protests

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In 1973, Augusto Pinochet, Commander in Chief of the Chilean army, became the dictator of Chile, South America. With Pinochet’s 17-year military rule, came a number of constitutional and economic reforms allegedly implemented in order to stabilize the economy of Chile; this was done through the privatization of state controlled agencies, including the education system. Over the years, the quality of education in Chile dramatically decreased due to an overall increase in the number of private universities, as well as, lack of investment and insufficient funding; Chile’s per student spending allowance is only $2,694 compared to the average of $7,525. The owners of Chile’s for profit universities set fees arbitrarily and rarely reinvest the profits back into the institutions; the misappropriation of school funding has had detrimental effects on the education system due to inaccessibility and the lack of a competent and capable teaching staff employed. A majority of Chilean citizens cannot afford to attend private universities and only 40% of Chilean students qualify for a free education. Often students must choose between being inundated for decades by inflated student loans, or forgo an education altogether and go directly into the labor force. Students who risk massive financial debt to attend privatized universities and training schools often graduate without the skills necessary to be successful in the job market. Although, a new government was installed in 1993, the Pinochet era constitution and economic policies are still in place. This system disproportionately favors the wealthy and exacerbates economic inequalities between Chileans. (Slater, 2012)
Chilean students have initiated an ongoing political movement in response ...

... middle of paper ...

...t the student movements have had a vital impact on the country; rest will not come until social reforms to create less inequality occur.

Works Cited

Agencia EFE. (2013, 09 5). Chilean students demand end to pinochet education model. Global Post. Retrieved from http://www.globalpost.com
Cabalin, C. (2012). Neoliberal education and student movements in Chile: inequalities and malaise. Policy Futures in Education ,10(9), 219-228.
Long, G. (2011). Chile student protests point to deep discontent. BBC News. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-14487555
Slater, S. (2012). The Chilean student movement: reflections and projections. Washington Report on the Hemisphere, 32(9), 5-7.
Weinstein, J. (2011). More equity in education: The Chilean students' outcry. The Phi Delta Kappan, 93(3), 76-77. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/23048929

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