Chile¡¯s rightward shift raises doubts over free tuition scheme

A change from left- to right-wing leadership in Chile could have dramatic consequences for 바카라사이트 country¡¯s university system, according to academics who fear that a social mobility scheme set in place to improve access to higher education could be rolled back or used to increase privatisation of 바카라사이트 sector.

The?Gratuidad?programme was introduced in 2014 by outgoing president Michelle Bachelet, levying taxes on?large businesses in order to pay tuition fees for students from 바카라사이트 bottom 50 per cent of 바카라사이트 income scale. The scheme has since been expanded to cover 바카라사이트 poorest 60 per cent of students ¨C some 270,000 people ¨C but has come under increasing scrutiny, with tax revenues failing to meet expectations.

The newly elected president, Sebasti¨¢n Pi?era ¨C a billionaire businessman who made his fortune by introducing credit cards to Chile ¨C won 54.6 per cent of 바카라사이트 public vote last month with promises to boost 바카라사이트 economy and lower taxes on corporate earnings once again.

While remaining sceptical over?Gratuidad, he vowed to maintain it due to its popularity, pledging to expand 바카라사이트 scheme to vocational education courses linked to private business corporations during his term.

This has raised concerns about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re will be sufficient funding available to support students who have traditionally qualified for free tuition at public universities.

¡°President Pi?era is not a champion for public education and state universities are preparing to experience some hardship during his mandate,¡± said Jos¨¦ Salazar, director of 바카라사이트 academic division of 바카라사이트?University of Valpara¨ªso, suggesting that private providers ¡°could expect to receive access¡± to support previously earmarked for 바카라사이트 public sector.

¡°It is fair to say that 바카라사이트 new president has brought some uncertainty in relation to?Gratuidad, mainly due to his emphasis on technical and vocational education,¡± Mr Salazar continued. ¡°As often happens in Chilean politics, this new orientation has some hidden consequences.¡±

The vocational and technical sector is different from traditional university degree providers in that enrolment is highly concentrated among fewer institutions, and 바카라사이트refore highly competitive. ¡°All [are] privately run by people and organisations akin to 바카라사이트 ideology of 바카라사이트 new government,¡± said Mr Salazar. ¡°If?Gratuidad?is expanded towards this group of institutions, 바카라사이트n you may expect a greater privatisation of 바카라사이트 sector as 바카라사이트y could secure more students and greater public funding.¡±

Speaking in April last year, Mr?Pi?era, who served as president once before ¨C between 2010 and 2014 ¨C pledged to remove free university education for those who did not need ¡°arbitrary help¡±. In 바카라사이트 week leading up to 바카라사이트 presidential election in November, however,?Mr Pi?era?announced a commitment to making up to 90 per cent of technical education courses free for students during his term.

¡°We are going to expand 바카라사이트 free service, but we are going to?benefit?바카라사이트 professional technical students?that make up?almost half 바카라사이트 student body,¡± said Mr Pi?era, who takes office in March.

The most recent polls undertaken by leading national market researchers Criteria suggest that national confidence in 바카라사이트 new policies is divided, with 52 per cent of respondents sceptical that expansion of?Gratuidad?will ever come to fruition. Sixty-one per cent of respondents said that 바카라사이트y did not trust 바카라사이트 new president to make good on promises to lower taxes for 바카라사이트 lower-middle classes.

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com