Student protests for free quality education are all the rage in Chile. Last year, students took over the university I now attend (Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso - or PUCV). They locked themselves inside and classes stopped for five months. This year, the government just ain't havin' it.
This morning, after my class ended at 11, my classmates and I left the building to find hundreds of students in the street with giant banners and signs, ready to march for this cause. And these demonstrations can get very dangerous, as you can see in the video. Vandalism, violence, beatings, tear gas, high-powered water jets, fires, and arrests aren't uncommon during these demonstrations.
These students march for educational freedom. Education (just like in the States) is expensive. There are very few institutions that are completely free, and they are low quality. Only the richer people can afford to go to school here, because those under a certain income have to take out loans and graduate with lots of debt (sounds familiar, huh?).
This inequality basically shows that the rich can go to school no problem, for $X, while the less wealthy end up paying $5X or so. Doesn't seem right. These Chileans march to change things. These protests for social justice beg the question...
These students march for educational freedom. Education (just like in the States) is expensive. There are very few institutions that are completely free, and they are low quality. Only the richer people can afford to go to school here, because those under a certain income have to take out loans and graduate with lots of debt (sounds familiar, huh?).
This inequality basically shows that the rich can go to school no problem, for $X, while the less wealthy end up paying $5X or so. Doesn't seem right. These Chileans march to change things. These protests for social justice beg the question...
Is quality education a right, or a privilege?
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