Chile's teachers' union criticized the planning for handing over schools to the Armed Forces for Sunday's presidential elections. The guild reported that in some establishments, military personnel arrived early on Friday, disrupting classes. They fear the facilities will not be returned in proper condition on Monday.
According to guidelines from the Ministry of Education (Mineduc), the Ministry of the Interior, and the Electoral Service (Servel), educational establishments were to be handed over to the Armed Forces at 5:00 p.m. on Friday for Sunday's presidential elections.
However, on Saturday, the Teachers' Guild criticized this planning, stating it could disrupt normal classes on Monday. "Our experience over years, decades, assisting as teachers in these situations is that it doesn't work," said Mario Aguilar, the guild's president.
Aguilar reported issues from Friday: "Already today (Friday) there were problems and I want to report it because I received reports that there were schools where, with children in classes, the military arrived first thing in the morning to take possession of the school, which is absolutely inconvenient and inappropriate." These incidents occurred in communes such as Recoleta and Arica.
The teachers' leader anticipates issues for Monday, as thousands of people will pass through the schools during Sunday's voting. "On Monday we'll see if what Servel and the Ministry of Education have said is fulfilled, that the schools will be hygienic, ordered, clean, and tidy by first hour on Monday," he stated. He added that "there will be many problems" due to "stubbornness," noting that in previous years, schools were handed over Thursday night or early Friday, allowing time for cleaning before classes.