Chile Students Fierce over Reforms

Santiago de Chile
Jun 6
After a national strike that left hundreds of people arrested and many others hurt, Chilean students are deciding Tuesday the future of their protests demanding reforms in the education policy.

The agreements will be adopted at an extraordinary meeting of the Coordinating Assembly of High-School Students after the government announced Monday evening it would submit to Congress a new initiative on the issue.

The youngsters are assessing the results of yesterday´s protests, which closed with nearly 300 people detained and 20 others wounded, including police officers and photographer from Siglo weekly, Jorge Zuñiga, who was violently beaten on the head.

Zuñiga is the author of pictures showing alleged policemen in civilian clothes infiltrating public demonstrations that were published by that paper last week.

Protests led to fierce clashes in Santiago plus a massive peaceful march in Valparaíso resort, 120 kilometers to this capital.

Also Monday, amid riots, Ricardo Lagos Weber, Minister Secretary General of Government, released that President Michelle Bachelet is sending to Congress a bill that proposes changes in the

Constitutional Organic Teaching Law, the main complaint of the students.

The initiative includes, as well, the creation of a Presidential Advisory Council, with student participation but under Executive control, to analyze municipalization and seek new teaching practices.

This should include development and training, evaluation systems and quality parameters, among other measures.