Chile Education Ministry faces backlash over budget cuts

Chilean Education Minister María Paz Arzola is facing intense criticism from opposition leaders, educators, and academics following the decision to end the ‘Yo Elijo Mi PC’ program in the 2027 budget. The program, which provides computers to students, is being phased out as part of fiscal adjustments, a move the Ministry defends as a way to prioritize classroom learning and early childhood education.

Mario Aguilar Arévalo, president of the National Teachers' Association, has condemned the decision, arguing it lacks pedagogical and technical justification and serves only as an economic cut. Academics have also warned that terminating the program could deepen the digital divide, as students from low-income families may lose access to essential tools for developing digital competencies.

While the government maintains that the 2027 budget focuses on essential learning and increases funding for early childhood education by 6.3%, critics argue the move ignores the necessity of digital infrastructure in a modern educational landscape.