MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean students reject gov't reform proposal

Militant Chilean high-school students have rejected a government proposal aimed at ending weeks of demonstrations and said they still planned to launch an escalated nationwide protest on Monday.

A spokesperson for the ACES student association said Saturday morning that a national strike was still slated for June 5, "although we hope it will be a peaceful one." "We'll be staging a national strike and will continue to protest until the government sets up negotiations to discuss reform" of the Pinochet-era education statute known as LOCE, said student leader Maria Jesus Sanhueza.

The students, who began mobilizing three weeks ago, have also demanded free use of public transport and a waiver of fees for the PSU college-entrance exam and for student identification cards.

Education Minister Martin Zilic acknowledged Friday night at a press conference that students had rejected the government's education reform proposal, which had been announced Thursday night by President Michelle Bachelet.

"There was no agreement because the students insist on free public transport," the minister said, adding that the government was still willing to continue the talks despite the lack of agreement thus far. "We have to be patient," Zilic said.

The students had said earlier in the week that, if the government did not respond to their demands, they would organize a strike that would also involve university students, teachers and other workers and be bigger than one staged on Tuesday.

More than 600,000 high school students - more than half the nationwide total - took part in Tuesday's strike and protests, which included the peaceful occupation of school buildings but also clashes with police that ended with 28 people injured and 730 arrested.

The president, who had remained silent during the weeks of demonstrations, repudiated the over-zealous repression of protesting students and announced the dismissal of the chief of the riot police, Col. Osvaldo Jara.

Bachelet, who is facing her biggest test since taking office less than three months ago, rejected free public transport for all students during a Thursday night address. She did agree, however, to grant unlimited-use bus passes - free of charge for low-income students - and a waiver of fees for university-entrance exams. She also agreed to establish a committee to study comprehensive reform of the educational system, especially the LOCE statute.

Student spokespersons said their demands for improvements to the educational system had gone unheeded for three years and insisted that Bachelet herself preside over the next round of negotiations.

Chile concedes to students

Finance Minister Andres Velasco said the government is allocating 31 billion pesos (US$58 million) during the second half of this year alone to meet the students' demands.

The concessions came after three straight days of violent street protests that saw some 20 people injured, more than 700 arrested and millions of dollars of property damage.

The government will send a bill to Congress to reform the country's education law which gives municipalities responsibility for public schools.

Velasco said discretionary spending funds in the 2006 budget would cover the government's elimination of a US$55 exam fee required for college applications, and providing government financing for a US$5.50 public transportation pass for 1.49 million students.