Chilean president ratifies free universal higher education goal

Chile's President Michelle Bachelet on Wednesday ratified her government's goal of making free universal higher education a reality for Chilean youth.

"Free and good higher education for everyone is what we want, and it is possible," Bachelet said at an official event in Pedro Aguirre Cerda, a city within the Santiago Metropolitan Region.

"We have proposed a realistic mechanism that is ... gradual to make it universal little by little," Bachelet said, in a message apparently directed at those impatient to see the president come through on her fundamental campaign promise to provide free quality education.

"That is the best way to guarantee ... there be no turning back, even though we have to take a little more time than we would have liked," she said.

Her minister of Finance, however, warned against the expense.

In a statement that seemed to contradict the president, Finance Minister Rodrigo Valdes said Chileans should ask themselves whether they wanted to earmark the significant funds necessary to make free universal higher education a reality, at the expense of other social "needs".

Valdes appeared to be addressing legislators, who are set to debate the government's education reform bill.

"If the education bill is passed, Chile is going to get free universal education," said Valdez, adding however it would be "irresponsible" to ignore today's economic reality, including lower prices for copper, Chile's main export.

Bachelet came to power in 2014 on the strength of a campaign platform that promised an overhaul of the education system, which had been largely privatized by her pro-business predecessor. Enditem