Students oppose the three percent budget cut of the ministries and the current administration’s decision to allow the free college tuition policy only for students up to 30 years old.

They also reject the excessive rise in fuel prices, which takes effect this Thursday and will cause a rise in the costs of food, transportation, electricity, and other services.

Aranza Diaz, spokesperson for the Student Solidarity Network, stated that these measures have a direct impact on education, health, and housing.

Diaz said, “They want to cut free tuition for people aged 30 and older, they want to go after those with outstanding CAE (State-Guaranteed Student Loan) debts, cut the Higher Education Food Scholarship, and, as we saw, they raised fuel prices.”

Thursday’s demonstration was convened by the Confederacion de Estudiantes de Chile (Confederation of Chilean Students-CONFECH), representing most university students, as well as by the Asamblea Coordinadora de Estudiantes Secundarios (Coordinating Assembly of Junior High School Students-ACES), among other groups.

jdt/iff/lb/car