Chile President Kast pushes reform of school admission system

The Chilean government, led by President José Antonio Kast and Education Minister María Paz Arzola, has introduced a bill to modify the Sistema de Admisión Escolar (SAE). The proposal, entered urgently into the lower house of Congress, creates two complementary mechanisms: “Elección Mutua,” a voluntary option for schools with excess demand that permits the use of objective, non‑discriminatory criteria such as academic performance from seventh grade, adherence to the school’s educational project, parental interviews, and proximity; and “Asignación Aleatoria,” which retains the existing random allocation for schools that opt out and for any remaining slots. The reform aims to restore merit, give families more choice, and preserve reserved spots for priority students and those with disabilities. President Kast emphasized the need to “recognize merit and effort” in education. The bill has sparked a heated debate: many legislators and education experts warn that the new selection tools could re‑introduce socioeconomic discrimination, especially through interviews and varying assessment methods. Trinidad Valdés, director of a master’s program at Universidad de los Andes, cautioned that “the mechanisms could easily be used for discrimination by socioeconomic level.” The proposal is now heading to parliamentary discussion, where its impact on thousands of families and the equity of Chile’s school system will be judged.