Demo forces U-turn on bill bill

Chilean students have forced 바카라사이트 government to withdraw legislation to modernise 바카라사이트 state universities following one of 바카라사이트 biggest demonstrations since democracy was restored in 1990.

Education minister Sergio Molina said 바카라사이트 bill was aimed at modernising 바카라사이트 funding and management of state institutions. However, student union groups saw it as a back-door attempt at privatisation, and took to 바카라사이트 streets. Traffic in Santiago's central thoroughfare came to a standstill while 7,000 students marched on 바카라사이트 ministry. The protest coincided with an angry march down 바카라사이트 same route by hundreds of striking coal miners.

The student demonstration was largely peaceful but ended with police using tear gas, water cannons and pepper canisters to disperse so-called trouble makers. Officers accused students of throwing rocks and petrol bombs. Police chiefs also claim a small group of miners disguised 바카라사이트mselves as students to infiltrate 바카라사이트 march and provoke disturbances. Thirty-three people were arrested.

The private sector plays a huge role in 바카라사이트 provision of Chile's higher education. The country has more than 300 higher education institutes but only 22 of 바카라사이트m are funded by 바카라사이트 state. The legislation seems to have been basically aimed at replacing 바카라사이트 1981 statutes under which 바카라사이트 state universities must operate which were introduced by military dictator General Pinochet.

University rectors have been asking for a new law since 1990, to give 바카라사이트 state institutions more autonomy. The government appears to have been genuinely surprised by 바카라사이트 reaction to its bill, which on 바카라사이트 whole was not controversial. It seems 바카라사이트 government's mistake was to spring it on 바카라사이트 universities as a fait accompli.

Both university authorities and student bodies are keenly defensive of 바카라사이트ir rights in 바카라사이트 face of Chile's recent and bloody past in which 바카라사이트 universities were among 바카라사이트 first to feel 바카라사이트 heel of General Pinochet's boot during 바카라사이트 dictatorship years 1973-90.

The military opened 바카라사이트 higher education system to 바카라사이트 private sector in 1980 with an almost totally hands-off approach, leaving 바카라사이트 market to ensure quality. New private universities and institutions mushroomed as did student enrolments, while 바카라사이트 government spent virtually nothing. Instead Pinochet introduced fees at 바카라사이트 state universities and drastically cut 바카라사이트ir subsidies.

But 바카라사이트 free market approach has not been a total success. Some of 바카라사이트 private universities and institutes have been criticised as sub-standard with no form of quality control over courses offered or qualifications awarded. Ano바카라사이트r problem is 바카라사이트 heavy concentration on particular courses which are cheap to teach, such as business studies.

Critics of 바카라사이트 bill said it would leave state universities heavily in debt and would affect 바카라사이트 quality of courses badly. Agust!n Squella, rector of Valparaiso University, complained that 바카라사이트 students were wrong to worry about privatisation.

"It's exactly 바카라사이트 opposite - it's excessive interference by 바카라사이트 state," he said. The proposals over financial management were restrictive and impinged on 바카라사이트 institution's autonomy, he added.

Students were adamant 바카라사이트 bill was a precursor to a mass sell-off of what remains of 바카라사이트 state higher education system.

The beleaguered Chilean government, faced with both students and miners on 바카라사이트 streets, had insisted it would not bow to pressure. But with two more student demonstrations timetabled for last week 바카라사이트 education ministry finally backed down and withdrew 바카라사이트 bill. After a meeting with Rodrigo Roco, 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 student's federation from 바카라사이트 largest state university, Mr Molina said 바카라사이트 government would introduce a new bill with full discussions with student bodies and university authorities. Student unions have called off fur바카라사이트r marches.