Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. GPS News .




DEMOCRACY
Students reject Chilean education reforms
by Staff Writers
Santiago, Chile (UPI) Sep 6, 2012


Thousands of students march during a protest against the Government of President Sebastian Pinera and the education system, in Santiago. Photo courtesy AFP.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera's latest jab at calming rioting students with an education reforms package provoked more street protests in Santiago and other cities.

A proposed $1.23 billion boost to education spending through business taxation was dismissed as inadequate by representatives of students who say the education system benefits a privileged minority, leaving the bulk of youths struggling with high fees, exorbitant loans and poor amenities.

Critics say Chile's controversial education system, criticized by teachers and trade unions, doesn't square with the country's economic boom, built on copper prices, a surging stock market and growth in other industrial sectors.

Chile is the world's No. 1 copper producer, its export earnings supplemented by international sales of wines, vegetables and other commodities and minerals.

Chilean central bank data showed an increased growth forecast for this year likely to exceed previous estimates. Growth this year is set to reach 4.75-5.25 percent and continue through next year, the regulatory bank's data indicated.

The bank said in its quarterly outlook interest rates would remain stable in the short term and inflation would stay around 2.5 percent this year and 3 percent in 2013.

The bank's optimistic economic outlook contrasted with the government's restrained response to the biggest political and security threat facing Pinera. Student protests have galvanized other sectors of society that want workable education reforms and an end to civil unrest.

Waves of student takeovers caused disruptions in the capital after the announcement of tax changes to fund education reforms, passed by Congress.

Hundreds of student protesters occupied various political party headquarters to express anger at the new legislation, The Santiago Times reported.

High school students took over the headquarters of the center-left Christian Democratic Party, the far-right Independent Democratic Union Party and the liberal Party for Democracy, while the Socialist Party headquarters was occupied by university students.

High school students also tried to occupy the Communist Party headquarters. While most headquarters were taken peacefully, protesters stormed the right-wing Independent Democratic Union headquarters, throwing rocks and smoke grenades, UDI youth league President Alvaro Pillado said.

Students are angry with the politicians for not doing more to push for reforms that will benefit the deprived majority that opposes the country's private and commercially oriented education system.

Pinera in a televised address pledged greater student participation in breaking the impasse.

"A message for the students," Pinera said. "I know you are not responsible for the problems that face our education system today but I do know that you should be part of the solution."

Student leader Gabriel Boric said there was need for a greater student role in resolving issues.

"We do want to be part of the solution," Boric told CNN Chile. "We are not here just to say 'this is bad' and 'I don't like this' but we will not accept the argument by politicians that says 'thanks very much students for bringing this issue to light, now it's our job to resolve it.' We have proposals and we want them heard."

Analysts said the reforms as proposed would not solve the problems that have driven youth into the streets.

Boric said funds raised through taxation on business would "mainly benefit a system of education that produces segregation in our country, and moreover it reinforces the for-profit education system."

"This reform does not address the needs of our country today ... At the end of the day both sides are a little uncomfortable with it."

Analysts say Pinera may need to find more funds for education reforms and also muster the political will to dismantle entrenched structures, discouraging privileged and powerful vested interests that have thwarted attempts at reform.

.


Related Links
Democracy in the 21st century at TerraDaily.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








DEMOCRACY
NATO says Georgia polls a 'litmus test' for democracy
Tbilisi (AFP) Sept 6, 2012
NATO on Thursday said parliamentary polls in Georgia next month would be a "litmus test" for its democratic credentials amid rising tensions between governing party and opposition. "The conduct and the run-up to parliamentary elections this October and presidential elections in 2013 will be a litmus test for Georgian democracy," NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told a news confer ... read more


DEMOCRACY
US fruit giant Dole settles 38 pesticide complaints

Spinach power gets a big boost

Bees, fruits and money

Little evidence of health benefits from organic foods

DEMOCRACY
More than 70 percent of electronic waste management is uncontrolled

Researchers measure photonic interactions at the atomic level

Wayne State's new flexible electronics technology may lead to new medical uses

Magnetic Vortex Reveals Key to Spintronic Speed Limit

DEMOCRACY
PZL-Swidnik highlights new products

'Sideways' aircraft for supersonic speed?

Chilean deal with EADS falling through

Arrest after China flight threat: state media

DEMOCRACY
GM says China sales grow despite slowdown

US auto sales jump 20 percent in August

New Saab cars to be rolled out in 2014

China's Dongfeng sees profits slide in first half

DEMOCRACY
Hong Kong to restrict foreign homebuyers from 2013

Nordic-Baltic states seek more cooperation

'Green' products trade gains momentum in APEC

Chile eyes free trade deals at APEC

DEMOCRACY
Loss of tropical forests reduces rain

Controversy in Liberian forest logging

Amazonian deforestation may cut rainfall by a fifth

Liberia forests sold off in secret logging contracts: report

DEMOCRACY
Astrium installs new terminal in Mexico to receive SPOT 6 and SPOT 7 imagery

Suomi NPP Captures Smoke Plume Images from Russian and African Fires

Remote Sensing Satellite Sends First Earth Imagery

Proba-2's espresso-cup microcamera snaps Hurricane Isaac

DEMOCRACY
Researchers Develop New, Less Expensive Nanolithography Technique

Breakthrough in nanotechnology material science

Nano machine shop shapes nanowires, ultrathin films

New wave of technologies possible after ground-breaking analysis tool developed




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement