Chilean organization calls for a protest to defend public education

Santiago, Chile, Sep 24 (Prensa Latina) The Confederacion de Estudiantes de Chile (Confederation of Chilean Students-CONFECH) has called a national rally to defend the education budget, which is threatened by major cuts proposed by President Jose Antonio Kast's government.

September 24, 2026
15:37

Marches and other demonstrations opposing those projects will take place across the country on October 1. Young people aim to rally other sectors under the slogan: “To transform Chile, not a single peso less for education.”

The organization criticized the lack of willingness to engage in dialogue with Education Minister Maria Paz Arzola and the government, which refused to listen to their proposals.

Laura Mlynarz, president of the University of Chile Student Federation and national spokesperson for CONFECH, demanded Paz Arzola defend her Ministry’s budget rather than handing it over to Finance Minister Jorge Quiroz.

Mlynarz noted that the group has already met with the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (Unitary Workers’ Union-CUT), the 8M Feminist Coordinating Committee, and education workers to seek support for their demands.

President Kast and Minister Quiroz are proposing a strict austerity and fiscal adjustment policy for several ministries, including the Education Ministry, to be implemented by 2027.

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