Higher education reform.
President Michelle Bachelet on July 4 submitted to Congress a bill to establish the framework for a gradual move towards universal free access to higher education and to tighten regulation of the system. The bill represents the final stage in an education reform that was one of Bachelet's key election promises and has already meant important changes in primary and secondary schooling. However, it has more critics than supporters.
Demand for faster progress towards free access will likely mean frequent student demonstrations during the debate.
The bill would be the largest reform of the higher education system since its opening to private universities in the early 1980s.
Tuition fees are key for universities since, in most cases, they account for around 70% of their income.
