In spite of the remarkable economic growth and responsible economic policies that profile Chile as one of the leaders in the Latin American region, since 2011 student protests have taken over the agenda and the public discourse in Chile. This phenomenon can be traced back to 2006 when high school students led massive protests and sit-ins. What was recalled as the “penguin revolution” (because of their school uniforms), ended with a presidential commission with student participation and a new legal framework for education in Chile. Regardless of some relevant improvements like governmental agencies for quality and funding control, this student-led movement accomplished no structural change.

In 2011, this same generation —now mainly college students— re-organized to demand structural changes to higher education. Using very creative means like flash mobs, public kiss-ins or classic music performances, among others, they called on the public attention to the grotesque inequality in the education delivery in Chile. Joined also by high school students which again led school sit-ins, hunger strikes and public protests; they demand free and high quality public education and the effective enforcement of profit prohibition both in the school and university levels. Many Chileans have contributed to the student’s movement; however, a few student leaders have been singled out and serve as spokesmen for the movement. Among them are Camila Vallejo and Noam Titelman. Please join us for a conversation with Camila Vallejo and Noam Titelman.

Join a conversation between Camila Vallejo, Noam Titelman (leaders of the student movement), Felipe Barrera-Osorio (Harvard Graduate School of Education) and moderator, Timothy Mccarthy.