The Internal Government Commissionin charge of legislating on migration issues, has approved an amendment that prioritizes Chilean citizens over foreigners in matters of education. This measure was promoted by the deputies of Renovación Nacional, Miguel Ángel Becker and Bernardo Berger, together with Juan Manuel Fuenzalida of the UDI, Rubén Oyarzo and Joanna Pérez of Demócratas. The proposal is part of a set of norms that seek to regulate the entry and permanence of migrants in the country, including grounds for prohibiting their entry and expanding the reasons for their expulsion.
The specific initiative that the State will guarantee access to preschool, basic and secondary education for foreign minors residing in Chile, under the same conditions as nationals. However, it is established that, in situations of equal conditions, priority will be given to Chileans to ensure their right to education. Deputy Becker commented that this modification seeks to balance the scales, since, according to him, until now foreigners have had advantages over nationals in accessing certain services.
Along the same lines, Deputy Berger argued that it is necessary to eliminate any advantage that the foreign could have on Chileans in the education and health systems. He pointed out that this issue has been a constant concern for many Chilean citizens, who believe that state resources should primarily benefit those who have directly contributed to the country’s growth.
The bill establishes in its Article 17 on Access to Education that the State may not deny the right to education to minors. foreign due to their immigration status. However, it will allow for the prioritization of nationals to guarantee their right. It also mentions that the residency requirement will not be required for applicants for social security benefits fully funded with fiscal resources, such as scholarships or student vouchers.
Luis Thayer, director of the National Migration Service (Sermig), expressed his concern regarding this prioritization. Thayer stressed that the State must comply with the Constitution, which guarantees access to education on equal terms for all inhabitants of the country, especially for children and adolescents. She stressed that prioritizing some over others could leave many minors out of the educational system, violating their rights and exposing them to risky situations.
