Far from the expected response to the demands of all stakeholders involved in vocational training, the creation of an Undersecretary of Education Superior was the major announcement of President Sebastián Piñera in the context of what has been called the "year of university reform."
The new agency, as the president, would aim to link the higher education institutions, students and academics with the state "more directly and efficiently."
However, there were words to the demand for public universities to increase to fifty percent basal state funding.
For state institutions, the president promised a "new deal" as long as required by the rector of Universidad de Chile, Víctor Pérez, however, this would be focused only to improve management and efficiency of schools, according to the statement by the president, who would not say whether this measure will mean increased funding, the possibility of borrowing by more than four years to expedite the administrative obstacles facing these institutions at the expense of private ones.
As had been anticipated, the President also announced a funding system of higher education through the delivery of a bonus to students so they can choose where to study. As had been widely criticized for treated, according to Giorgio Jackson, president of the FEUC, a "boucher" deepening the privatization of the system.
In the same vein, also advanced to the solidarity fund defaulters may reschedule the debts, but from the Council of Rectors of Universities of Chile (Cruch) had requested the reduction of interest on these loans, which would greater than five percent, ie, greater than that applied to a mortgage.
Sebastian Piñera also announced an increase in grants for technical and professional careers.
While
has CRUCH reported that the reform of higher education is being planned within four walls, the publication in newspapers of the ten steps the Government intends to implement in the field led to the directors to indicate that they would wait until after the speech to comment, however, were terse statements by the President in this regard.
Given this, the president of the Federation of Students of the University of Chile (FECH) Camila Vallejo, criticized presidential announcements and said that CONFECH will meet tomorrow to discuss the next steps, including not rule out more protests and adherence to cardiac together with national workers. "The reforms that were raised in the speech did not reflect what we have demanded this last time, there are insufficient measures poor, it was said that there would be a great reform. There is no talk of profit, no one talks of new deal with state universities, there is talk of a greater injection of resources, do not talk about access mechanisms that break with the inequality and inequity are not talking about the democratization higher education, "criticized the leadership.
Camilo Vallejo was emphatic in stating that the students continue with their demands and protests. "We are tired of this, "he said, adding:" We know that government measures will increase privatization, go to a further weakening of the organizations and public education, which today are already quite Alice. "
In this sense, the chairwoman of the date in question as "an important political signal" on stretched canvas that some MPs during the speech and alluded to public education, but said that such support must be expressed in votes in Congress, specifically in the next discussion of the Budget Law, where they hope to integrate these demands.
"That some legislators are showing agreement with our approach is a very good sign, but expect that to be reflected in the vote in Congress. We hope that if these demands are not contained in the Budget Law, to reject it, "said Vallejo.
Source: Radio UdeChile
