University students
University students are represented by CONFECH, the Confederation of Chilean Student Federations, a national body made up of student governments at Chilean universities and led by Camila Vallejo of the University of Chile and Giorgio Jackson of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. The CONFECH's proposal, known as the "Social Agreement for Chilean Education" (Acuerdo Social por la Educación Chilena), demands:
Increased state support for public universities, which currently finance their activities mostly through tuition
More equitable admissions process to prestigious universities, with less emphasis on the Prueba de Selección Universitaria standardized test
Free public education, so access to higher education doesn't depend on families' economic situation.
Creation of a government agency to apply the law against profit in higher education and prosecute those universities that are allegedly using loopholes to profit. The students oppose direct (fellowship and voucher) and indirect government aid (government-backed loans) to for-profit schools.
A more serious accreditation process to improve quality and end indirect state support for poor quality institutions
Creation of an "intercultural university" that meets the unique demands of Mapuche students
Repeal of laws forbidding student participation in university governance
High school students
High school students are more loosely organized than the university students, with no national federation. However, their demands have also been included in CONFECH's proposal and include:
Central government control over secondary and primary public schools, to replace the current system of municipal control which allegedly leads to inequalities
The application of Chile's school voucher system in pre-school, primary and secondary levels be applicable only to nonprofit schools. The Chilean system, although defended by researchers linked to the conservative Heritage Foundation, is criticized by researchers like Martin Carnoy, blaming it for the tremendous inequalities across all the Chilean educational system, measured by OECD's standards.
Increases in state spending. Chile only spends 4.4% of GDP on education, compared to the 7% of GDP recommended by the UN for developed nations. Additionally, Chile ranks behind only Peru in educational segregation among the 65 countries that take the PISA test. Prominent Chilean education researcher Mario Waissbluth has called the Chilean system "educational apartheid"
Use of student bus pass throughout the year
Development of more vocational high schools
Reconstruction of schools damaged during the 2010 Chilean earthquake
Moratorium on the creation of new voucher/charter schools
Higher pay for teachers and a national plan to attract the best talent to the profession and raise its social stature.
Additionally, some segments of the student movement have called for additional changes, such as a constitutional amendment guaranteeing quality education, an increase in the tax rate of higher earners (which is low in comparison to OECD countries), higher taxes for foreign extractors of or renationalization of Chile's copper resources.