What began as a quiet plea for improvements in public education has now erupted into a wholescale rejection of the Chilean political elite. More than 100 high schools nationwide have been seized by students and a dozen universities shut down by protests.Classes for tens of thousands of students have been suspended since May 2011, and the entire school year might have to be repeated.
Support for the Student Protest
Polls show an estimated 70% of the Chilean public backs the students' demands and an equal percentage find the government's proposal insufficient, according to figures from Chile's leading newspaper, La Tercera.
Camila Vallejo Student Leader
Camila Vallejo President of Chile's leading student body, known as Fech (Federación de Estudiantes de la Universidad de Chile), Vallejo – who is also a member of the youth arm of the Communist party, the JJCC – has presided over the biggest citizen democracy movement since the days of opposition marches to General Augusto Pinochet a generation ago.
In just a matter of months, Vallejo has been catapulted from anonymous student body president to Latin American folk hero with more than 300,000 Twitter followers.
Protest Marches
Throughout the six-month revolt, Chilean students – in many cases led by 14- and 15-year-olds – have seized the streets of Santiago and major cities, provoking and challenging the status quo with their demand for a massive restructuring of the nation's for-profit higher education industry.
In support of their demands for free university education, since May they have organised 37 marches, which have gathered upwards of 200,000 students at a time.
Sign reading 'Education is not for sale'
Students-led Protest Demands -
Support for the Student Protest
Polls show an estimated 70% of the Chilean public backs the students' demands and an equal percentage find the government's proposal insufficient, according to figures from Chile's leading newspaper, La Tercera.
Camila Vallejo Student Leader
Camila Vallejo President of Chile's leading student body, known as Fech (Federación de Estudiantes de la Universidad de Chile), Vallejo – who is also a member of the youth arm of the Communist party, the JJCC – has presided over the biggest citizen democracy movement since the days of opposition marches to General Augusto Pinochet a generation ago.
In just a matter of months, Vallejo has been catapulted from anonymous student body president to Latin American folk hero with more than 300,000 Twitter followers.
Protest Marches
Throughout the six-month revolt, Chilean students – in many cases led by 14- and 15-year-olds – have seized the streets of Santiago and major cities, provoking and challenging the status quo with their demand for a massive restructuring of the nation's for-profit higher education industry.
In support of their demands for free university education, since May they have organised 37 marches, which have gathered upwards of 200,000 students at a time.
Sign reading 'Education is not for sale'
With Kiss-Ins and Dances, Young Chileans Push for Reform
Students-led Protest Demands -
- New Framework for Education in Chile
- More Direct State Participation in Secondary Education and
- End to the Existence of Profit in Higher Education.
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