Rectors from several Chilean universities declared themselves "on alert" because, according to Cooperativa, the higher education allocation in the proposed 2027 Budget would see a real reduction of 0.1%, despite the executive branch having announced a substantial injection of funds.
The Ministry of Education's budget item 9 totals 17.3 trillion pesos. It is the State's second-largest allocation, after health. However, according to the analysis cited by the outlet, those amounts barely keep pace with the CPI (Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation). In practice, that means a slight decline in spending.
The Government explained that this is a "continuity" budget that prioritizes early childhood education. The universities unanimously rejected that reallocation because it directly affects the resources they receive. The source does not specify which programs or funds are being cut.
María Fernanda Vicuña, vice rector for financial affairs at the Catholic University, reiterated the position of Rector Juan Carlos de la Llera, who spoke on behalf of public universities that are not state-run. "We are not asking for an increase," she said. According to Vicuña, they are asking that the funding that currently pays for an hour of teaching, a research project or the training of a doctoral student continue to cover the same costs next year.
The academic added that freezing funding at its nominal value "would amount to a hidden cut," because inflation is projected to be around 3% next year.
The rector of the University of Chile, Alejandra Mizala, cited the winter PAES, the Higher Education Access Test taken midway through the year, as an example. In 2022, it was administered at 28 sites, and today it is administered at 49. Mizala warned that without those resources, the number of sites would have to be reduced again, something she described as "enormously unfair" to students in the regions and remote areas.
The section covering the Undersecretariat for Higher Education remained pending in the fourth Budget Subcommittee, chaired by Senator Yasna Provoste (DC). "Everyone, without exception, told us the same thing: this Budget puts the Chilean university system at risk," said the senator, who also serves on the Senate Education Committee. Provoste maintained that this is "a warning from the country" and not a complaint driven by institutional or ideological interests.
There was also concern within the governing coalition. Senator Iván Moreira (UDI) said it is "painful" to take these measures, but argued that the Government inherited a weakened economy. "It would be easy to do populist things," he said, noting that the Government has a disapproval rating of almost 60%.
Moreira announced that he would be "the main opponent" if the 2028 Budget fails to address the needs of the various ministries. That same Tuesday, President José Antonio Kast and Minister of Education María Paz Arzola took part in an event for the National Commitment to Reading Learning to highlight the budget's focus on early childhood education.
