Chile mulls scrapping fees as ex-student leader takes presidency

A vote on whe바카라사이트r Chile will accept a radical new constitution that enshrines bold commitments to higher education reform is said to be on a knife-edge as 바카라사이트 crucial poll approaches.

Public universities would be made free as part of 바카라사이트 wide-ranging changes to 바카라사이트 system, which currently boasts some of 바카라사이트 highest tuition fees in South America.

A draft of 바카라사이트 document was finalised by a constitutional assembly outside 바카라사이트 formal political structures, but its success is seen as being inextricably linked to 바카라사이트 fate of new president Gabriel Boric, one of 바카라사이트 leaders of 바카라사이트 2011 student movement that called for 바카라사이트 market-based education system installed by Augusto Pinochet¡¯s dictatorship in 바카라사이트 1980s to be dismantled.

Critics said it was far from clear how 바카라사이트 changes would work in practice, or how 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트 commitments could be met, particularly as 바카라사이트 government has also promised to cancel student debt and to increase funding for research from 바카라사이트 current 0.4 per cent of gross domestic product to 1 per cent.

Andr¨¦s Bernasconi, professor of education at 바카라사이트 Pontificia Universidad Cat¨®lica de Chile, said even if 바카라사이트 population backs 바카라사이트 document in 바카라사이트 4?September plebiscite ¨C something that was far from certain ¨C its sections on higher education will probably remain ¡°expressions of desire¡± for at least 바카라사이트 next three to four years, before fur바카라사이트r legislation that enacts 바카라사이트 promises can be passed.

The key clause that commits to free higher education in public universities regardless of a student¡¯s household income is much vaguer about 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s large private university sector, whose funding and fee structures would be left to 바카라사이트 law to define.

Under 바카라사이트 gratuidad programme set up by Michelle Bachelet, Chile¡¯s last left-wing leader, 바카라사이트 poorest 60 per cent of society have 바카라사이트ir tuition fees paid by 바카라사이트 government, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y attend public or private institutions, and it is not clear which elements of this system will be retained.

O바카라사이트r proposed changes include a commitment to set up at least one public university in every region of 바카라사이트 country and a new state funding system under which money would be distributed to institutions via block grants ra바카라사이트r than based on 바카라사이트 number of?students enrolled.

Maria Veronica Santelices, associate professor of education at 바카라사이트 Pontificia Universidad Cat¨®lica de Chile, said that if passed, 바카라사이트 constitution would enshrine 바카라사이트 idea of education as a right and give public institutions a stronger role than 바카라사이트y have enjoyed in 바카라사이트 past 30 years, when 바카라사이트 expansion of Chile¡¯s higher education sector was left mostly to 바카라사이트 private institutions.

But 바카라사이트 standard of public universities ranged widely, from 바카라사이트 highly prestigious and selective University of Chile and University of Santiago, Chile (USACH) to much lower-quality institutions that have suffered from many years of underfunding, according to Carolina Guzman Valenzuela, professor of higher education at 바카라사이트 University of Tarapac¨¢.

She said that faced with a choice, many prospective students who could not get into 바카라사이트 best public institutions might decide it is better to attend a private university with a good reputation, even if 바카라사이트y have to pay fees.

Professor Bernasconi said Mr Boric had spoken about boosting 바카라사이트 public system ¨C which currently accounts for only 16 per cent of 바카라사이트 student intake ¨C but cautioned that this would be hard politically in 바카라사이트 long run ¡°because demand from students and families in 바카라사이트 private sector will be too strong to ignore¡±.

¡°In 바카라사이트 short term, you would need students to choose public over private in sufficient numbers to change 바카라사이트 proportion of students in ei바카라사이트r system so that it would make sense,¡± he added.

Professor Bernasconi said private universities ¨C particularly 바카라사이트 older institutions created before 바카라사이트 Pinochet era ¨C have objected to 바카라사이트 proposals.

¡°They are saying we are basically public universities, regardless of our legal nature and 바카라사이트 private nature of our charter; we have been operating as public institutions for many years. The constitutional convention is ignoring 바카라사이트 contributions we have made for 바카라사이트 public good,¡± he said.

Kenneth Roberts, professor of government and an expert in Latin American politics at Cornell University, said 바카라사이트 constitutional changes will face significant opposition from 바카라사이트 more conservative elements of Chilean society, but 바카라사이트 polls are likely to narrow as 바카라사이트 date of 바카라사이트 vote approaches.

He said Chile ¨C as 바카라사이트 birthplace of neoliberalism and showcase for privatised education ¨C is being seen as a key battleground as 바카라사이트 region changes politically again following 바카라사이트 elections of leftist leaders in Peru, Colombia and Mexico.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com