I live in the Commune of Santiago with my family, the neighborhood of the Plaza Jerusalem (Plaza de los Reyes). We are permanent residents of Chile. My 6 year old son has the legal right to receive free basic education in Chile. However, my child's rights are violated.
We began to enroll in "Escuela Libertadores De Chile" (2018). That school is the closer to our home. This school is municipal and free for Chileans and foreigners. However, the inspector general of that school refused to enroll at the Escuela Libertadores de Chile (Enrollment 2018) for my son.
This happens a second time. In 2016, at same School, I was also denied enrollment (Enrollment 2017).
"Educación Municipal de Comuna de Santiago" also refused to help me.
Why the inspector general, the administration of Escuela Libertadores De Chile and Educación Municipal de Comuna de Santiago discriminate me against and violate my son's right to free basic education? I consider that discrimination against our child is on a national and racial basis, because we are europeans. I do not see any other explanation for this situation.
Beginning of September. The inspector general of the school "Escuela Libertadores De Chile" appointed the day of receipt on October 1, 2017. I visited the municipal council. At my request, Senora Valeria Cisteina called the school and she was told that the recording will be opened on October 2, 2017. I went to school many times to clarify the date of recording to the school.
On September 28, the Inspector General of Escuela Libertadores De Chile told me that there are no entries in school yet. The recording will be later, another day. Wait for the announcement.
October 2, 2017. I came to the school at 8.00. The Inspector General said that there are no records yet. The recording will be after. Wait for the announcement. Around 8:30 I came to the municipal council. At my request, Senora Valeria Cisteina called the school and was assured that the record was open. She could not help me any more, because another employee kicked me out of the office. At 12.30 I came to the school again. The guard told me that the recording was over today and will be tomorrow from 8.00 to 12.00.
October 3, 2017. I came to the school around 9.00. I was told that there are no records at the school yet. The recording will be later, another day. Wait for the announcement. I visited the Ministry of Education of Chile. Senora Erika Figueroa Gallegos called the school. She was assured that the recording was open. She gave me a document "Informe al Hogar" and she said that now they have to write me down. I went to the school. At school one lady said that she was the general inspector (this is another woman). She said there was no record. The recording will be later, another day. Wait for the announcement. I returned to the ministry. Senora Senora Erika Figueroa Gallegos called the school and she was told that there is no record and you need to call on Monday October 9 (not a working day?).
October 4, 2017. I came to the school at about 11.30. The guard told me there was no record. Recording will be later, another day. The guard did not let me meet the inspector general.
October 5, 2017. I visited the school "Escuela Libertadores De Chile" and talked to inspector general of the school.
A small dialogue from the conversation:
Inspector: "The enrollment 2018 in the school is not open until now. We wrote to you that we have nothing."
I: "For us?"
Inspector: "Yes"
I: "When will the record in your school open?"
Inspector: "It's not known, they will solve ... It's too late now, it's a public school, where the Peruvians, the Colombians study..."
I: "Europeans?"
No answer
I: "Are you not recording my son, because he is European?"
Inspector: "I once again explain to you that the enrollment is not open ..."
I: "It's clear, only for my son there is no enrollment to this school!"
I did not receive a response to my complaint, the school inspector general refused to give me an answer.
My conclusions: The enrollment in the school is not open until now, but for my son at school there is no place anymore.
The same situation was last year.
I want to note that this is an ordinary school, not elite. This is a municipal public school, where all children are required to take part. But a free school at neighborhood is inaccessible to my child.
This is what I call "discrimination."
October 5, 2017 I visited "Superintendencia de Educación de Chile" too.
I talked to Mr. Mauricio Urzúa Leiva. He called the school "Escuela Libertadores De Chile". The dialogue consisted of two parts.
First part. Entry to the school is open. There were 30 places. 2 places are left and I can come tomorrow (October 6, 2017) and write my child to the school.
Mr. Mauricio Urzúa Leiva calls my name and name of my son.
The second part begins (as always). The enrollment in the school is not open yet. I need to call another day and maybe they'll open a enrollment in the school ...
My conclusions:
1. The enrollment in the school "Escuela Libertadores De Chile" is open and continues. On October 2, 3, 5, 2017, various officials called the school and they were told that the enrollment was open. I go to school every day, but they discriminate us against and violate my child's rights.
2. There are still places in the free public school, but they do not write my child to school.
This is what I call "discrimination."
October 6, 2017. I went to "Escuela Basica Libertadores de Chile" again.
Teacher's assistant Pamela Flores said that there are no entries in the school. She did not let me get in touch with the school administration. She said that the name of the Inspector General is Veronica Leiva and she is on sick leave. There is no any Maria at the school. (Maria is a woman who refused my son to write to the school on October 3 and 5). Maria said that she was the inspector general and talked with me in official offices. I do not know who is this woman and whether she has the right to refuse my son to write to the school. I do not have any official information from the school so far.
October 6, 2017. I visited "Consejo Nacional de Infancia".
Police Commissioner Felipe Aguila Mansilla advised me to write a complaint to "Superintendencia de Educación" of Chile.
However, they informed me that they did not receive any complaints from me. They received an suggestion from me.
We press the button "Congratulations, suggestions and complaints". We get "Suggestions and Congratulations". The button "Complaints" disappeared. The complaint can not be sent.
Ph.D. Natalia Petrovskaya