The Consortium of Rectors of State Universities (Cuech) issued a statement opposing a potential 3% fiscal adjustment affecting their funding, warning there is no room for cuts without harming public education quality. Leaders of the 18 public universities highlight risks to professional training, research, and innovation, particularly in regions. The Ministry of Education declined to comment on the statement.
Over the past two weeks, ministers including María Paz Arzola of Education and Ximena Lincolao of Science, along with undersecretaries Fernanda Valdés and Fernando Araos, warned rectors that the José Antonio Kast government's 3% budget adjustment could impact state higher education funding.
The Cuech, representing the 18 public universities, issued a firm statement on Thursday. “No existe margen real para un ajuste financiero en las universidades estatales sin afectar la calidad de la educación pública, dadas las restricciones estructurales del sistema,” they stated. They added that any reduction would undermine the strategic need to bolster professional training, research, and innovation in regions.
The rectors shared the government's concern over public spending but warned that across-the-board cuts are not neutral. They criticized current regulations limiting their ability to absorb reductions compared to private universities. They also backed a moratorium on new gratuidad entrants, pointing to unregulated private expansion.
During her March 26 debut before the Cruch, Arzola had already indicated higher education funding was not a priority, focusing on early childhood. The ministry declined to respond to the Cuech statement.
