Starting January 1, 2026, the Servicio Local de Educación Pública (SLEP) Santiago Centro took over the administration of 43 educational establishments in Santiago commune, ending direct municipal management. This shift impacts 27,000 students and thousands of teachers and assistants, including emblematic high schools like Instituto Nacional. Mayor Mario Desbordes' administration highlighted achievements in funding and infrastructure during its tenure.
The transfer of 43 establishments to SLEP Santiago Centro, effective from January 1, 2026, ends direct municipal administration of education in Santiago commune. Among the transferred institutions are historic high schools such as Instituto Nacional (founded in 1813), Liceo 1 de Niñas Javiera Carrera, Liceo de Aplicación, and Internado Nacional Barros Arana. In total, 27,000 students, 2,068 teachers, and 1,361 education assistants—including professionals, technicians, and auxiliaries—now fall under the SLEP as their new employer.
An SLEP survey shows that 24 of these 43 establishments (55.8%) are over 100 years old, with several dating to the 19th century or early 20th. For instance, Liceo Miguel Luis Amunátegui is 134 years old, while Instituto Nacional's current building dates to 1963. This age poses challenges in infrastructure and maintenance, such as issues with connections, floors, and access, beyond their patrimonial value.
Under Mayor Mario Desbordes, municipal funding for education tripled, from nearly 8 billion pesos in 2021 to over 24 billion in 2025, despite an inherited deficit. Administrative and labor records were regularized to smooth the handover, and school coexistence issues were addressed: over 25 evictions for occupations, expulsions, and lawsuits for violence occurred. Surveillance cameras were installed at Instituto Nacional, Liceo Barros Borgoño, and Internado Nacional Barros Arana. On Desbordes' instructions, unprecedented retirement incentive bonuses were paid to teachers and assistants from 2021 to 2023.
This process aims for more efficient technical-pedagogical oversight, though challenges remain in preserving these educational icons.