Chilean students protest education budget cuts

Thousands of students and social organizations protested across Chile, in Santiago, against proposed cuts to public education funding, as Congress prepares to debate President José Antonio Kast's 2027 budget. Student unions organized marches towards the La Moneda presidential palace. Police responded with water cannons and tear gas, leading to clashes and seventeen arrests in Santiago. Students' core concern is anticipated reductions in the Ministry of Education's budget. Leaked details suggest rollbacks affecting direct funding for state universities. President Kast pledged to protect free higher education for 600,000 students, but student leaders warn broader funding for the entire sector is at risk. The slogan "Not a single peso less for education" encapsulates demands for resources to maintain and enhance public education quality. These protests are part of Chile's long history of student activism. For decades, students have campaigned for an equitable, quality, and free public education system, challenging neoliberal policies. Previous movements, including the 2006 'Penguin Revolution' and 2011 protests, highlighted societal discontent with the educational framework. The proposed budget cuts threaten vital student programs, such as the School Feeding Program and Higher Education Access Support. Student organizations indicate further mobilizations will occur once the budget bill enters Congress, signaling a prolonged period of social unrest.