Combating discrimination in Chile

Chile's education budget has increased tenfold in the past decade and efforts are being made to stop discrimination. Interview with the Chilean Education Minister Mariana Aylwin, a university teacher and historian.

What are the special problems facing Chile's education system?

The country is in the throes of the "massification" (general expansion) of education. Also, our education system continues to put content before the job of instilling social and emotional values. The relationship between teachers and pupils is still based on hierarchy, which leaves little room for pupil participation and initiative. Chilean society is also strongly biased against some sectors of the population and there is violence in our schools.

Can schools help people live peacefully together?

Chilean educational reform has set this and citizenship as broad and fundamental goals in all aspects of school life. We want to include non-violent conflict resolution in our on-the-job training for teachers. Pilot projects, especially in school mediation, are already under way in several parts of the country. We also have a programme where schools open their doors to pupils and parents on Saturdays and Sundays. As schools get more involved with the local community, they become cultural, sporting and social meeting places.

Schools themselves may take part in discrimination instead of fighting it. How can this be avoided?

In Chile we have a system of assessing teachers which takes into account their degree of tolerance, compassion and respect for diversity, and their efforts to combat discrimination. School textbooks have been very carefully written to avoid sexist or other discriminatory content.

Education Today, Executive Office, Education Sector, UNESCO
7, place de Fontenoy - 75352 Paris 07 SP - France - Tel: 33 1 45 68 21 27 - Fax: 33 1 45 68 56 26/27
E:mail: t.murtagh@unesco.org