Chilean education and science leaders call for budget stability

During the 2027 budget law discussions in Chile, leaders in the education and science sectors have raised concerns regarding funding levels for public institutions and regional infrastructure.

Alejandra Mizala, Rector of the University of Chile, warned that cuts to higher education and science funding could jeopardize the ability of universities to contribute to national development. Mizala noted that universities conduct over 70% of the country's research and requested that the 2026 budget be maintained, adjusted for inflation, rather than seeing a reduction.

In the Aysén Region, Senator Miguel Ángel Calisto highlighted a significant increase in funding for VTF kindergartens, marking the first rise in that area since 2015. However, he expressed concern over a sharp decline in resources for school infrastructure and maintenance under the Local Public Education Services (SLEP), noting that funds for such works dropped from 1.5 billion to 700 million pesos.